Pubdate: Sat, 15 Jan 2000
Source: The news clipping service of MAP/DrugSense
Website: http://www.mapinc.org/

ONDCP/PDFA ACCUSED OF PROPAGANDA AND INFLUENCE PEDDLING

reads the headline of the latest FOCUS ALERT from DrugSense, posted at:

http://www.mapinc.org/alert/0145.html

The alert encourages readers to respond with Letters to the Editor to the 
widespread news stories about the payola plan designed by our Drug Czar - 
stories that resulted from the investigative reporting of Daniel Forbes web 
published in Salon, an internet magazine. See:

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n043/a09.html

I wrote the this note to post with the article:

We at MAP are pleased to make an exception to our policy of not posting web 
only published items for this article by Dan Forbes.  Dan wrote an article 
for Brandweek magazine in 1998 which first exposed the lack of research 
into the value of the ONDCP/PDFA ad campaigns.  The article is a key link 
from our Partnership for Drug-policy Facts and Alternatives website at 
http://www.pdfa.net - the Brandweek article is at: 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n000/a03.html

And in Part 2 of the Salon article Dan wrote:

"After Kolbe learned of the deal from this reporter, he summoned McCaffrey 
for explanation, and the snow job continued.  McCaffrey appeared before 
Kolbe's appropriations subcommittee in October 1999.  There McCaffrey made 
his most direct, if brief, statement yet: "We allow public affairs and 
programming to count as part of a network's public service contributions," 
he said.  But even this was buried in a complex discussion of formulas, and 
he did not make it clear that the practice frees up millions of dollars in 
advertising time for the networks."

Now we see McCaffrey and even the President working the spin control, 
trying to convince us that both congress and the public should have been 
aware of their payola plan. Dozens of stories have been sent by newshawks 
to   and many have been posted (but a few are still in the queues of 
the editors). The latest posted may always be seen at:

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/

We are starting to see editorials and columns on the story, prime targets 
for Letters to the Editor.

Readers can easily find their state or province newspapers and other 
publications using the MAP media source database at:

http://www.mapinc.org/resource/email.htm

to find not only links to websites but also the best contact information 
for your letters.

Plus MAP's Writer's Resources can help you design your letter in a way that 
increases the chance of publication.

http://www.mapinc.org/resource/email.htm

Thank you, newshawks, for sending all the items on this story, which 
appears to be gaining the most press we have seen since the IOM report came 
out last Spring. Please keep sending the items to  - note that we 
are most interested in the editorials and columns which are starting to appear.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake