Tobacco, part 4: subpoenas and legal chill

As academic researchers examined the advertising activities of tobacco companies, the industry responded with accusations of scientific fraud, and ever more onerous demands for disclosure of researchers’ data and documents.

Tobacco, part 3: “…smearing and belittling”

As the tobacco industry’s disinformation campaign ramps up, the PR agency ponders “smearing and belitting” the researchers who had established the smoking-cancer link.

Tobacco, part 2: “A Frank Statement”

It was 1953, the cancer-smoking link was now firmly established, and the tobacco industry faced ruin. It was time for the disinformation campaign to get serious.

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Tobacco, part 1: “What cigarette do you smoke, Doctor?”

Post-war cigarette advertising:  lung cancer emerges as an existential threat to the tobacco industry, and pseudoscience becomes a valuable part of the public relations toolkit.

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“Doubt is our product”: PR versus science

How can a public relations campaign win against clear scientific evidence? The tobacco companies found the way to do it.