Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => Hyde Schools => Topic started by: Anonymous on November 11, 2008, 08:38:33 PM
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Hyde Lifts Off with New Sister Site
8/25/2008
Hyde Schools, a non-profit organization known for its successful delivery of character development and parenting programming at its public and boarding schools and in workshops throughout the country, announced the launch of its sister website—onlyatHyde.org (http://http://www.onlyathyde.org/).
Parents interested in enrolling their children in a Hyde school and those already enrolled will gain a unique resource with the arrival of the site, a collection of sights, sounds, and stories unique to the 42-year-old educational organization renowned for the work it does with students and families in advancing the development of character. The site is designed to bring the diversity and visual and acoustic influence of the Hyde experience to a broader online audience. The creators and contributors hope the public will respond to and engage in content posted on the site with the goal of building an online Hyde community.
The website was conceptualized during discussions between Hyde Board of Governors member Nancy Lund and Hyde President Malcolm Gauld, who expressed interest in featuring the “unique” and “intriguing” qualities and experiences delivered only at Hyde. Over the past several months, Lund, teaming up with Leo Burnett Worldwide, Inc., a cutting edge global marketing firm, and a group of Hyde employees, an edgy crowd, captured what they believe is the essence of marketing concepts for the Hyde experience. The end result is the Only @ Hyde idea which, over time, will be incorporated into the organization’s marketing materials and tools.
Hyde President Malcolm Gauld notes of the new site launching, “It has been an exciting group effort with contributions offered by faculty, students, alumni, parents, and friends. The end result is a site that captures and expresses a unique spirit of community found Only @ Hyde.”
OnlyatHyde.org (http://http://www.onlyathyde.org/) provides areas where visitors can read, watch, communicate, and listen to Hyde thoughts, experiences, and moments. From the homepage, visitors can browse through meaningful Hyde stories and one-liners, watch graduates deliver speeches and parents share their experiences and passions, and move to the music recorded by students in Nashville with the help of parent graduates Don Cook and Michael McDonald.
To celebrate the creation of OnlyatHyde.org, a launch party will be held on August 25, organized by Sam Tobis ’07 Woodstock and Jake Aaron ’07 Woodstock. At least 100 alumni and friends will gather at 48th Street, between 5th and 6th avenues in New York City at the plaza where NBC’s Today show airs. Hyde guests will don colorful t-shirts with the new site’s URL and stand in the plaza to offer support for Hyde in the hope that the camera will zoom in and capture the attention of would-be and seasoned Hyde fans. An informal, outdoor brunch is planned at Clinton Cove Park, following the Today gathering.
http://www.hyde.edu/podium/default.aspx ... zg3TSvk%3D (http://www.hyde.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=204&id=qwi7zg3TSvk%3D)
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Uh. Gag me with a ladle. Hey, alumni and Hyde supporters: is this an appropriate use for all your donation dollars? "Only @ Hyde" is nothing more than one massive, multi-page, glossy marketing site, filled with useless hyperbole and inflated pats on the back for all who subscribe to the cult credo.
Then again, "Only @ Hyde" has about as much to do with "character education" as what Hyde actually practices... so that much is in tune with (Hyde) reality!!
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The website was conceptualized during discussions between Hyde Board of Governors member Nancy Lund and Hyde President Malcolm Gauld, who expressed interest in featuring the "unique" and "intriguing" qualities and experiences delivered only at Hyde. Over the past several months, Lund, teaming up with Leo Burnett Worldwide, Inc., a cutting edge global marketing firm, and a group of Hyde employees, an edgy crowd, captured what they believe is the essence of marketing concepts for the Hyde experience.
My my... Poke beneath the surface and the sewage starts to trickle forth... The irony of Hyde School utilizing the resources and expertise of a professional cigarette pimp to market their so-called wholesome family-friendly character education product hits even me, cynical as I am, right in the craw.
Ms. Lund is obviously a big supporter of Hyde. She is currently on the Board of Governors, and the parent of Jeff Lund ('06 Woodstock). And she puts her money where her mouth is: according to the Annual Report of Giving 2005-2006 (http://http://www.hyde.edu/ftpimages/107/download/download_group7184_id196840.pdf.), both she and husband Jeff Lund individually gave in the $10,000-$24,999 range that year alone ("Founders' Circle").
I wonder whether Ms. Lund's sum total included a matching contribution from her employer? That would be Philip Morris USA, of whom she is the Senior Vice President of Marketing. IF so, that would mean that Big Tobacco helps fund Hyde School, where--if you are a student and are caught smoking a cigarette--you will be put on 2-4 along with other less than palatable social adjustments that you will most certainly rue...
Hypocritical? Nah, by now it's to be expected... Only @ Hyde!!!
:ftard:
Remember how Marlboro was disparaged in the news not so many years ago re. their explicit market targeting of teen smokers? Enter "Sr. VP of Marketing Nancy Lund, ...the foremost person responsible for the marketing of Marlboro –- the #1 underage brand..." (source (http://http://www.tobacco-on-trial.com/2005/04/12/day-91-brooker-ysp-program-a-sham/), and an excellent read on the substandard handling of conflicts of interest within the tobacco indutry). A prescient quote from Ms. Lund's brief bio notes that "Nancy has been the key steward of the Marlboro brand for more than two decades."
Here is her brief bio in full (in 2003 (http://http://www.altria.com/about_altria/timeline.asp), Philip Morris officially changed its name to Altria Group, Inc. (http://http://www.altria.com/about_altria/corp_structure.asp)):
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(http://http://www.altria.com/en/cms/About_Altria/Our_Management_Team/Images/lund_large.jpg.aspx)
Nancy B. Lund (http://http://www.altria.com/en/cms/About_Altria/Our_Management_Team/Nancy_Lund/default.aspx)
Senior Vice President of Marketing
Altria Client Services Inc.
Nancy Lund serves as the Senior Vice President, Marketing, Altria Client Services Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc. Her team currently provides marketing professional services to all of the Altria Group companies in the following areas:
- Brand Equity Building
- Marketing Compliance
- Market Information & Consumer Research
At Philip Morris USA Inc., Nancy served as Senior Vice President of Marketing since 1999 and has been engaged continuously with the Marlboro brand since 1986, when she became Brand Manager, Marlboro. Nancy has been the key steward of the Marlboro brand for more than two decades.
Throughout her career with Philip Morris USA, she has led the creation of new products, new brands, new promotions and new communications for the company.
Prior to joining Philip Morris USA in 1985, Nancy was an executive with Wells Rich Greene, an advertising agency in New York City.
Nancy currently serves on the boards of directors of Arts Council of Richmond and The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Foundation. She is a member of Board of Governors of HYDE Schools and is an emeritus member of the Board of Trustees of Lafayette College.
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Nice find!
You'll find a lot to like in a marlboro: filter, flavor, pack or box.
And it is the same way with Hyde. Hyde's flavor does not quit like other secondary educations. That unique Hyde taste just stays with you for the rest of your life.
Tim,
The website was conceptualized during discussions between Hyde Board of Governors member Nancy Lund and Hyde President Malcolm Gauld, who expressed interest in featuring the "unique" and "intriguing" qualities and experiences delivered only at Hyde. Over the past several months, Lund, teaming up with Leo Burnett Worldwide, Inc., a cutting edge global marketing firm, and a group of Hyde employees, an edgy crowd, captured what they believe is the essence of marketing concepts for the Hyde experience.
My my... Poke beneath the surface and the sewage starts to trickle forth... The irony of Hyde School utilizing the resources and expertise of a professional cigarette pimp to market their so-called wholesome family-friendly character education product hits even me, cynical as I am, right in the craw.
Ms. Lund is obviously a big supporter of Hyde. She is currently on the Board of Governors, and the parent of Jeff Lund ('06 Woodstock). And she puts her money where her mouth is: according to the Annual Report of Giving 2005-2006 (http://http://www.hyde.edu/ftpimages/107/download/download_group7184_id196840.pdf.), both she and husband Jeff Lund individually gave in the $10,000-$24,999 range that year alone ("Founders' Circle").
I wonder whether Ms. Lund's sum total included a matching contribution from her employer? That would be Phillip Morris USA, of whom she is the Senior Vice President of Marketing. IF so, that would mean that Big Tobacco helps fund Hyde School, where--if you are a student and are caught smoking a cigarette--you will be put on 2-4 along with other less than palatable social adjustments that you will most certainly rue...
Hypocritical? Nah, by now it's to be expected... Only @ Hyde!!!
:ftard:
Remember how Marlboro was disparaged in the news not so many years ago re. their explicit market targeting of teen smokers? Enter "Sr. VP of Marketing Nancy Lund, ...the foremost person responsible for the marketing of Marlboro –- the #1 underage brand..." (source (http://http://www.tobacco-on-trial.com/2005/04/12/day-91-brooker-ysp-program-a-sham/), and an excellent read on the substandard handling of conflicts of interest within the tobacco indutry). A prescient quote from Ms. Lund's brief bio notes that "Nancy has been the key steward of the Marlboro brand for more than two decades."
Here is her brief bio in full (in 2003 (http://http://www.altria.com/about_altria/timeline.asp), Philip Morris officially changed its name to Altria Group, Inc. (http://http://www.altria.com/about_altria/corp_structure.asp)):
—•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•—
(http://http://www.altria.com/images/exec/Lund.jpg)
Nancy B. Lund (http://http://www.altria.com/about_altria/biography/1_4_5_lund.asp)
Senior Vice President of Marketing
Altria Client Services Inc.
Nancy Lund serves as the Senior Vice President, Marketing, Altria Client Services Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc. Her team currently provides marketing professional services to all of the Altria Group companies in the following areas:
- Brand Equity Building
- Marketing Compliance
- Market Information & Consumer Research
At Philip Morris USA Inc., Nancy served as Senior Vice President of Marketing since 1999 and has been engaged continuously with the Marlboro brand since 1986, when she became Brand Manager, Marlboro. Nancy has been the key steward of the Marlboro brand for more than two decades.
Throughout her career with Philip Morris USA, she has led the creation of new products, new brands, new promotions and new communications for the company.
Prior to joining Philip Morris USA in 1985, Nancy was an executive with Wells Rich Greene, an advertising agency in New York City.
Nancy currently serves on the boards of directors of Arts Council of Richmond and The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Foundation. She is a member of Board of Governors of HYDE Schools and is an emeritus member of the Board of Trustees of Lafayette College.
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...You'll find a lot to like in a marlboro: filter, flavor, pack or box.
And it is the same way with Hyde. Hyde's flavor does not quit like other secondary educations. That unique Hyde taste just stays with you for the rest of your life.
That analogy is most appropriate, haha! In ever so many ways...! :clown:
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I wonder whether Ms. Lund's sum total included a matching contribution from her employer? That would be Phillip Morris USA, of whom she is the Senior Vice President of Marketing. IF so, that would mean that Big Tobacco helps fund Hyde School, where--if you are a student and are caught smoking a cigarette--you will be put on 2-4 along with other less than palatable social adjustments that you will most certainly rue...
Like a new haircut to change that badass bad-attitude gangsta image!!
Check out these "workers", and that fancy new buzz on the right:
(http://http://www.hyde.edu/ftpimages/107/photo/large_photo18434_68598.jpg)
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Mmmm... From what I recall (from my time there), those work-crew/2-4 endeavors were often solo ventures by design (the better to make someone feel truly ostracized and much like warmed-over shit). However, I understand from another poster here that there are now "crews" such as appear to be depicted in that IMG (?).
I suppose much would depend on the actual transgression committed, eh? ;D
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...Back to Ms. Nancy Lund... ::evil::
At the moment, there are 12,768 documents (http://http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/search/basic?fd=0&q=Nancy+lund&df=er&c=at&c=ba&c=bw&c=ct&c=da&c=ll&c=lm&c=mg&c=mm&c=pm&c=rj&c=ti&c=ub&c=us) with Nancy Lund's name on them in the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library maintained at UCSF. Although most of these appear to be emails from her assistant scheduling and rescheduling appointments and meetings, court dates, etc., some are more interesting. Here's what appears to be some presentation given in May 1997 regarding a new marketing strategy:
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Title NANCY LUND
Person Authors LUND,N
Document Date 19970500/E
Document Type SPCH, SPEECH, PRESENTATION
Bates Number Previous Bates 2078018838/8847 Next Bates
Master Bates 2078018802/8935
Collection Philip Morris
Pages 10
Organizations Mentioned CONGRESS; FDA, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION; PHILIP MORRIS
Persons Mentioned CLINTON; MCCARTHY
Characteristics CONF, CONFIDENTIAL; DRFT, DRAFT; EXTR, EXTRA
File Number 2078018801/2078018936/PRESENTATION TO BOARD
Litigation Usage FEDA/PRODUCED
Area MERLO,ELLEN/STORED FILES
Site N343
Date Added UCSF 20021209 (December 9, 2002)
Date Added Industry 20020815 (August 15, 2002)
TID qfx75c00
[PDF document; Adobe Reader required] View as PDF document (http://http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/qfx75c00/pdf)
[TIFF image; viewer required] View as TIFF image (http://http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/qfx75c00/tiff)
[Page-by-Page] View page-by-page (http://http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=qfx75c00)
[Permanent Link for Bookmarking] http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/qfx75c00 (http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/qfx75c00)
============== ============== ==============
Mostly Sunny
Draft - Confidential
This scenario describes a hypothetical situation. It has been scripted as part of an exercise for the sole purpose of generating ideas and promoting discussion. This fictional story and its details are not intended for any other purpose.
Nancy Lund
Our first scenario is appropriately titled Mostly Sunny.
[SLIDE 44: LOGO]
We are going to look out 10 years into a changing environment that will offer us many opportunities and it represents our most optimistic look into the future. Government and business reach a common ground on policy and regulation, and the US economy flourishes. This leads to new accommodation for smokers and the expansion of opportunities for manufacturers and marketers. But even in the best of situations, as you will see, we need to play an active role if we intend to shape a more tolerant future environment for people who choose to smoke. Now let's explore how this view of the future materializes. It builds on a heightened concern about privacy.
[SLIDE 45: ANTI'S ARROW]
The anti's, feeling their oats from eight years of the Clinton administration, embark on an all out strategy that backfires --
[SLIDE 46: WORDS COLLIDING]
because their discriminatory attitude collide with the public concern for personal freedoms.
The backlash starts when the Antis, after successfully demonizing the Industry, and riding the issue of youth smoking, move on to
[SLIDES 47: HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL]
running national ads highlighting individual smokers and their personal habits in an attempt to discredit those they consider negative role models. They release personal information on these individuals to embarrass them on their smoking and drinking habits, as well as the kind of places they frequent, similar to the smear campaigns of the McCarthy era.
[SLIDE 48: POLL RESULTS]
The general public is outraged, and polls show that while anti-smoking sentiment is still high, the antis have clearly overstepped the boundaries of reasonable action. Americans want an end to the misuse of information, more control over their own personal data, and reasonable control placed on tobacco.
The watershed for this scenario occurs when the new congress, pressed by overwhelming public opinion,
[SLIDE 49: LEGISLATION PASSED]
passes new privacy legislation and also focuses on personal responsibility by agreeing on legal reform that is directed at the increasing number of irresponsible lawsuits spawned in the mid 90's. In the wake of the legal reform movement and award limitations, the number of product liability cases decreases significantly during the first few years of the 21st century.
[SLIDE 50: CIGARETTE LEGISLATION]
Congress also addresses the smoking issue by passing new laws, that while restrictive, allow brand promotion and advertising in controlled circumstances. Further, Congress protects smokers' rights by supporting Accommodation legislation. No FDA regulation is considered, and the lawsuit brought by the Industry challenging FDA rule is finally successfully concluded.
Fueled by the new environment and steady economic growth,
[SLIDE 51: NEW PRODUCT SLIDE]
a revitalized marketplace emerges as a wide variety of new products are introduced, and a new category evolves called Moonrise.
[SLIDE 52: MOONRISE CATEGORY]
It consists of both conventional and non-conventional products that specifically address ETS, and it captures a 20% SOM in only 3 years.
Much as the marketplace changes, so does the smoking environment. Philip Morris' efforts in the mid 90's
[SLIDE 53: RESTAURANT]
to support and promote new ventilation technology paves the way for the new state of the art systems.
Smoking restrictions in public places are still the law in most states, however these restrictions are pre-empted where the new high-efficient ventilation systems are installed.
[SLIDE 54: VENTILATION NEWS]
These new ventilation systems, along with the numerous new tobacco products with minimal ETS, essentially remove much of the conflict between smokers and non-smokers.
[SLIDE 55: LOGO]
This Mostly Sunny environment continues on through the early part of the 21st century as tolerance and courtesy prevails.
[SLIDE 56: WORDS UNDER LOGO]
In summary, the antis no longer dominate discussions about tobacco. Technology has dealt with the ETS issue, and bi-partisan legislation leaves the industry in a very competitive and still profitable state, and the smoking experience has been revitalized.
But even if the external drivers should fall in place as I described, it will take an active effort on our part to ensure that the positive trends continue. We can help shape the best social environment for smokers.
[SLIDE 57: ENVELOPE HIGHLIGHTING "NEW GAME"]
Now New Game.
###
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Contrast Nancy Lund's presentation above with this (Op Ed?) piece that follows, which appeared on or shortly before May 5, 1979 in the Portland, ME. Express (author unknown):
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SMOKING (http://http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=qhn09a00)
Setting an example
Joseph W. Gauld made a good point when he said that teachers should set an example and take a stand against smoking.
The statement probably won him more friends in his audience, the Maine Lung Association and Thoracic Society, than among teachers.
It was all very nostalgic for those who can remember the era when teachers never smoked in public and smoking in school was unheard of.
But the setting of the example should also extend to the home. Gauld, founder of the innovative Hyde School at Bath, also is right in stressing the integrity factor because, as he pointed out, a 14-year-old sees dying as something very remote and the health warnings may be lost on him.
It has long been our thesis that impressionable young people are not going to be greatly moved by dire warnings about anything when the lecture comes from parents, teachers or other adults who regularly engage in the practice against which they are preaching.
We don't share Gauld's view that the Tobacco Institute brainwashes the public. The Institute and the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare do precisely the same thing. They set forth arguments to support their conflicting positions.
But we doubt that the Institute's defense of tobacco is any more successful in attracting people to its use than the surgeon general's warning on labels is in dissuading people.
Adults smoke because they are addicted or because the pleasure they derive makes them willing to take a calculated risk of health injury.
Young people smoke because it is an adult thing to do. That's what makes the example setting so important whether the subject is tobacco or alcohol.
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A number of faculty and Grads smoked when I was there with out violating any kind of "ethic" IIRC Paul and Laurie Hurd shared Marlboros from the same pack. The grads that were part of A.S. were allowed to smoke .. discretely.
So Hyde has cancer blood money on it's hands. Only@Hyde!
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Seems to me that the smoking issue was a much bigger deal back in those days, but then again, I was never there in the capacity of a "grad," hahaha!! Once I left, I never looked back. And I may very well have been much more brainwashed than you, that is for sure... to the point where it quite seriously compromised my ability to understand human nature and even my survival instincts.
From what I recall, Joe Gauld... was... rather... anti-smoking... with all the fervor and righteousness of a probably fully-addicted ex-smoker himself (no personal offense intended).
Did you know that he participated in the hearings for the National Commission on Drug-Free Schools in 1989/1990? Much, if not most, of the resultant concern of that Commission focused on alcohol and tobacco. A 33-page portion (http://http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/hqc02f00) of the Final Report TOWARD A DRUG-FREE GENERATION: A Nation's Responsibility (November 15, 1990) happens to now be on file at the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library at UCSF.
There's Joseph W. Gauld, representing "The Hyde School" (page 84 of the original document, page 25 (http://http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=hqc02f00&page=25) of the truncated link) as one of "more than 200 experts in drug education and prevention" who participated in panel discussions in one of six regional areas across the country. In Joe's case, this took place on November 13-14, 1989 at the Commission's stop in Boston, Massachusetts (Madison-Park Humphrey Center High School and Boston University).
From the introductory section of the report, explaining purpose and focus:
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FOREWARD
The National Commission on Drug-Free Schools was established by Congress in Section 5051 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-690) and assigned the following four tasks:
- To develop recommendations of criteria for identifying drug-free schools and campuses;
- To develop recommendations for identifying model programs to meet such criteria;
- To make other findings, recommendations, and proposals the Commission deems necessary; and
- To prepare and submit a final report to the President and Congress.
Under the legislation, the Secretary of Education, Lauro F. Cavazos, and the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, William J. Bennett, were appointed cochairmen of a 26-member commission. In August 1989, they appointed 16 citizen members representing drug education and prevention, state and local education agencies, parent-teacher organizations, school boards, community groups, and law enforcement. Congress appointed a bipartisan delegation of four members of the senate and four members of the House of Representatives.
The Commission met for the first time on August 24, 1989, when it adopted the following goals:
- To identify and discuss circumstances, situations, and issues that contribute to illicit drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, abuse, and dependency among students.
- To make recommendations on strategies, programs, criteria, and policies that could assist in making our schools and students drug-free.
- To develop criteria for identifying model programs.
- To develop recommendations for identifying existing programs that meet such criteria.
- To make recommendations on ways to develop model programs.
- To develop a report of the Commission's findings and present that report to the President and Congress within a year.
Commission members heard prepared testimony from more than 150 people representing the schools and communities where hearings were held. At six regional meetings, the Commission held day-long panel discussions with more than 200 experts in drug education and prevention. Commission members visited 17 schools and campuses, as well as a neonatal intensive care unit for drug-affected babies, a center for abused and neglected infants, foster homes, a runaway shelter, a juvenile detention center, and a public housing project. Commission members also talked with more than 1,500 students, teachers, school administrators, and parents, and rode police and citizen patrols through inner-city neighborhoods and along the Mexican border.
This final report presents an outline of goals for achieving drug-free schools by the year 2000; an overview of drug problems among young people; a summary of students' views on alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; and an outline of the roles and responsibilities of community groups and organizations. The Commission's findings and recommendations, which make up most of the report, provide observations about drug problems and suggest ways that schools and communities can begin to solve them. Examples of some effective drug prevention programs and activities the Commission found in its investigations appear throughout the report.
The Commission has given considerable thought to the contents of this report and is in full agreement on an overwhelming number of the findings and recommendations. Unanimity on every recommendation, however, was not possible given the diversity of perspectives and strongly held views of members. Rather than include minority views separately, the Commission wishes to acknowledge that some differences of opinion exist among members.
TOWARD A DRUG-FREE GENERATION: A Nation's Responsibility proposes an action plan for the nation to achieve drug-free schools. It is presented to the President, Congress, and the American public with the hope that it will lead to more effective drug education and prevention in schools and communities--and that ultimately it will help save young people now and in the future from the ravages of drugs.[/size]
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Altria Group Inc. in the news re. deceptive marketing practices:
link to article (http://http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6556139&rss=rss-wls-article-6556139)
Court allows lawsuits over 'light' cigarettes
Monday, December 15, 2008
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Monday handed a surprising defeat to tobacco companies counting on it to put an end to lawsuits alleging deceptive marketing of "light" cigarettes.
In a 5-4 split won by the court's liberals, it ruled that smokers may use state consumer protection laws to sue cigarette makers for the way they promote "light" and "low tar" brands.
The decision was at odds with recent anti-consumer rulings that limited state regulation of business in favor of federal power.
The tobacco companies argued that the lawsuits are barred by the federal cigarette labeling law, which forbids states from regulating any aspect of cigarette advertising that involves smoking and health.
Justice John Paul Stevens, however, said in his majority opinion that the labeling law does not shield the companies from state laws against deceptive practices. The decision forces tobacco companies to defend dozens of suits filed by smokers in Maine, where the case originated, and across the country.
People suing the cigarette makers still must prove that the use of 'light' and 'lowered tar' actually violate the state anti-fraud laws, but those lawsuits may go forward, Stevens said.
He was joined by the other liberal justices, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter, as well as Justice Anthony Kennedy, whose vote often decides cases where there is an ideological division.
The conservative justices, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, dissented.
Thomas, writing for the dissenters, said the link between the fraud claims and smokers' health is unmistakable.
But he also said: "The alleged misrepresentation here -- that 'light' and 'low-tar' cigarettes are not as healthy as advertised -- is actionable only because of the effect that smoking light and low-tar cigarettes had on respondents' health."
Three Maine residents sued Altria Group Inc. and its Philip Morris USA Inc. subsidiary under the state's law against unfair marketing practices. The class-action claim represents all smokers of Marlboro Lights or Cambridge Lights cigarettes, both made by Philip Morris.
The lawsuit argues that the company knew for decades that smokers of light cigarettes compensate for the lower levels of tar and nicotine by taking longer puffs and compensating in other ways.
A federal district court threw out the lawsuit, but the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it could go forward.
The case is Altria Group Inc. v. Good, 07-562.
(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Justice John Paul Stevens, however, said in his majority opinion that the labeling law does not shield the companies from state laws against deceptive practices. The decision forces tobacco companies to defend dozens of suits filed by smokers in Maine, where the case originated, and across the country.
Kind of ironic that this case originated in Maine, home base of Hyde School.
And just what, exactly, does Hyde School have in common with Big Tobacco? The same deceptive marketing practices, even some of the same marketing personnel!
:roflmao:
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does this mean that smoking is now OK at Hyde School?
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does this mean that smoking is now OK at Hyde School?
LOLS. Probably NOT!!
Btw, in case I didn't make it clear in one of my previous posts, my issue is not with smoking per se. That is kind of a personal choice, as far as I am concerned. Certainly, it has its uses in brain stimulation and stress reduction, not to mention early morning binnis facilitation.
My issue lies with Hyde School's deceptive marketing practices (long a complaint from disgruntled parents and former students), and Hyde School's hypocrisy (also long a complaint from that same community).
The recent marketing collaboration of Hyde School with a senior marketing exec from Philip Morris (long historically accused of deceptive and fraudulent marketing practices), makes their ideological similarity all the more apparent.
Hyde School is in bed with Big Tobacco.
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Altria Group Inc. in the news re. deceptive marketing practices:
link to article (http://http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6556139&rss=rss-wls-article-6556139)
Court allows lawsuits over 'light' cigarettes
Monday, December 15, 2008
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Monday handed a surprising defeat to tobacco companies counting on it to put an end to lawsuits alleging deceptive marketing of "light" cigarettes.
... <snip snip>
The case is Altria Group Inc. v. Good, 07-562.
(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
There is a fairly lengthy description/analysis of this case on the Legal Information Institute run by Cornell Law School. Apparently, much hinges on whether the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act can be called into play... :eek:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/cert/07-562.html (http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/cert/07-562.html)
Facts
Defendants Altria Group and Philip Morris (Altria’s subsidiary) manufactured and sold two brands of cigarettes, "Marlboro Lights" and "Cambridge Lights." See Good v. Altria Group, Inc., 501 F.3d 29, 30 (1st Cir. 2007). Altria’s advertising claimed "Marlboro Lights" and "Cambridge Lights" were "light" cigarettes and contained "lowered tar and nicotine." See id. Stephanie Good and several other smokers instituted a class action against Altria Group and Philip Morris (collectively "Altria"),
claiming this advertising was a misrepresentation under the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act ("MUTPA"). See Good v. Altria Group, Inc., 436 F.Supp.2d 132, 132 (D.M.E. 2006).
[/list]
Links for Merit Briefs, oral argument transcripts, etc. on file with the American Bar Association can be accessed HERE (http://http://www.abanet.org/publiced/preview/briefs/oct08.shtml).
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I love to hears the cheering minions, har har!!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 1255918909 (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8925644831255918909)
Marketing my way to millions,
Joseph W. Gauld, The Educator
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Here's a YouTube clip that includes the material within that Google clip Joe posted above, plus extra before and after material.
Only At Hyde
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXvwT2Fbhlc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXvwT2Fbhlc)
Hyde School visits Today Show to promote new website.[/list]
Jeez Louise... add the tiniest bit of red tint to all those yellow shirts, and you get...orange. Hare Krishna, Hare potential, Hare char-ac-ter...
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Here's a YouTube clip that includes the material within that Google clip Joe posted above, plus extra before and after material.
Only At Hyde
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXvwT2Fbhlc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXvwT2Fbhlc)
Hyde School visits Today Show to promote new website.[/list]
Jeez Louise... add the tiniest bit of red tint to all those yellow shirts, and you get...orange. Hare Krishna, Hare potential, Hare char-ac-ter...
I was thinking "Moonies" when I saw the video.
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The website was conceptualized during discussions between Hyde Board of Governors member Nancy Lund and Hyde President Malcolm Gauld, who expressed interest in featuring the "unique" and "intriguing" qualities and experiences delivered only at Hyde. Over the past several months, Lund, teaming up with Leo Burnett Worldwide, Inc., a cutting edge global marketing firm, and a group of Hyde employees, an edgy crowd, captured what they believe is the essence of marketing concepts for the Hyde experience. The end result is the Only @ Hyde idea which, over time, will be incorporated into the organization's marketing materials and tools.
While Nancy Lund may have been the "key steward of the Marlboro brand for more than two decades," Leo Burnett's dealings with Philip Morris/Altria have actually spanned over half a century. Moreover, Burnett played a significant role in the creation of the Marlboro man.
Here is an excerpt (http://http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=niw88a00) from "The World's Most Powerful Brand," the cover story from AdWeek's Marketing Week May 9, 1988 edition, describing some early Marlboro history:
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As the world's best-selling cigarette, Marlboro sits atop a pedestal that's crumbling beneath it. The percentage of American adults that smoke drops slightly each year and now stands at 27%, or 47 million people. That's down from 40% in 1964, the year the U.S. Surgeon General first warned of a link between smoking and cancer, heart disease and other health problems. In a recent poll, 55% of adults favored a complete ban on smoking in all public places, and astonishingly, 25% of smokers agreed.
Philip Morris could preserve the Marlboro brand by extending it into other businesses--a strategy Philip Morris executives don't dismiss. And if the odds are against the brand, consider Marlboro's history of beating the odds. First launched as a women's brand in 1924, Marlboro came in a white box with script lettering and the slogan, "Mild as May." Women didn't buy the taste claim, so Philip Morris, desperate for a way to differentiate the brand, added an ivory-colored tip. No dice. Women complained that it showed lipstick stains. So Philip Morris made the tip red. That, too, proved to be a failure, so Philip Morris withdrew the brand in the late 1940s.
Marlboro returned soon after American Tobacco Co. made Pall Mall the first cigarette with a filter tip in the mid-1950s. Figuring it should have a filter cigarette, too, Philip Morris put filter tips on Marlboro and began pitching the brand to men in 1955.
The big breakthrough came a couple of years later when Joe Cullman, then chief executive of Philip Morris, and Leo Burnett, founder of Cullman's advertising agency, invented the new image for Marlboro--the cowboy. Shortly after Philip Morris relaunched the brand, Leo Burnett unveiled ads featuring the notorious cowpoke and the tag-line "The news has come out of the West."
The news was that Marlboro was the first cigarette to come in a flip-top box, and the brand started showing signs of life...
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My my... Poke beneath the surface and the sewage starts to trickle forth... The irony of Hyde School utilizing the resources and expertise of a professional cigarette pimp to market their so-called wholesome family-friendly character education product hits even me, cynical as I am, right in the craw.
Ms. Lund is obviously a big supporter of Hyde. She is currently on the Board of Governors, and the parent of Jeff Lund ('06 Woodstock). And she puts her money where her mouth is: according to the Annual Report of Giving 2005-2006 (http://http://www.hyde.edu/ftpimages/107/download/download_group7184_id196840.pdf.), both she and husband Jeff Lund individually gave in the $10,000-$24,999 range that year alone ("Founders' Circle").
I wonder whether Ms. Lund's sum total included a matching contribution from her employer? That would be Philip Morris USA, of whom she is the Senior Vice President of Marketing. IF so, that would mean that Big Tobacco helps fund Hyde School, where--if you are a student and are caught smoking a cigarette--you will be put on 2-4 along with other less than palatable social adjustments that you will most certainly rue...
Hypocritical? Nah, by now it's to be expected... Only @ Hyde!!!
:ftard:
Remember how Marlboro was disparaged in the news not so many years ago re. their explicit market targeting of teen smokers? Enter "Sr. VP of Marketing Nancy Lund, ...the foremost person responsible for the marketing of Marlboro –- the #1 underage brand..." (source (http://http://www.tobacco-on-trial.com/2005/04/12/day-91-brooker-ysp-program-a-sham/), and an excellent read on the substandard handling of conflicts of interest within the tobacco indutry). A prescient quote from Ms. Lund's brief bio notes that "Nancy has been the key steward of the Marlboro brand for more than two decades."
Here is her brief bio in full (in 2003 (http://http://www.altria.com/about_altria/timeline.asp), Philip Morris officially changed its name to Altria Group, Inc. (http://http://www.altria.com/about_altria/corp_structure.asp)
—•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•—
Ursus, how many programs are known to have supplied cigarettes to their underage charges? Daytop is one of them.
(An aside: Also in Foxrun one of the parents was with a candy company. We were for a little while given samples as treats, but only if we remembered to return a comment card on the way out of the dining hall. We tried P.B. max before it hit the market.) Have other programs done similar things?
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Ursus, how many programs are known to have supplied cigarettes to their underage charges? Daytop is one of them.
(An aside: Also in Foxrun one of the parents was with a candy company. We were for a little while given samples as treats, but only if we remembered to return a comment card on the way out of the dining hall. We tried P.B. max before it hit the market.) Have other programs done similar things?
No clue, but I suspect that has a lot more to do with the proclivities of the founder and/or folks running the show, than it does with any other considerations, lol!
Clearly Hyde, despite an avowed anti-smoking policy (stringency of that policy perhaps dependent on how much landscaping needs to be done at any given point in time), has no problem accepting largess from Big Tobacco. Whether this is merely in the form of services or skill rendered, or additionally in the form of actual cash donations accepted, remains to be seen.
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They're just re-inventing new ways to scam the desperate.
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The irony of Hyde School utilizing the resources and expertise of a professional cigarette pimp to market their so-called wholesome family-friendly character education product hits even me, cynical as I am, right in the craw.
Ms. Lund is obviously a big supporter of Hyde. She is currently on the Board of Governors, and the parent of Jeff Lund ('06 Woodstock). And she puts her money where her mouth is: according to the Annual Report of Giving 2005-2006 (http://http://www.hyde.edu/ftpimages/107/download/download_group7184_id196840.pdf.), both she and husband Jeff Lund individually gave in the $10,000-$24,999 range that year alone ("Founders' Circle").
I wonder whether Ms. Lund's sum total included a matching contribution from her employer? That would be Philip Morris USA, of whom she is the Senior Vice President of Marketing. IF so, that would mean that Big Tobacco helps fund Hyde School, where--if you are a student and are caught smoking a cigarette--you will be put on 2-4 along with other less than palatable social adjustments that you will most certainly rue...
Hypocritical? Nah, by now it's to be expected... Only @ Hyde!!!
A number of faculty and Grads smoked when I was there with out violating any kind of "ethic" IIRC Paul and Laurie Hurd shared Marlboros from the same pack. The grads that were part of A.S. were allowed to smoke .. discretely.
So Hyde has cancer blood money on it's hands. Only@Hyde!
In 2003, Philip Morris changed its name to Altria Group, Inc. This accomplished (at least) two things: 1) the impact of negative press and sullied image that Philip Morris had by then accumulated was at least diluted, obscured; and 2) people would have a chance to cultivate nascent positive associations with its new name, since the name change was also accompanied by a new campaign of philanthropic PR work.
Altria... uh... is that supposed to sound kinda like "altruism?"
Here's some interesting info from AltriaMeansTobacco.com:
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Altria Means Tobacco (http://http://www.altriameanstobacco.com/)
In 2003, Philip Morris Companies officially changed its name to the Altria Group, Inc.. The REAL reasons for this change: to hide the "taint" of tobacco and restore a corporate image.
As researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, we studied Philip Morris's own internal company documents to learn more about why this change was planned and undertaken. Our findings were published in the American Journal of Public Health (April, 2003, Vol. 93, #4). Although Philip Morris had already purchased the rights to the URLs altriasucks.com and altriakills.com, altriameanstobacco.com is here to help other researchers, community activists, and the public develop counterstrategies in the face of this Philip Morris/Altria public relations ploy.
For more than a decade, Philip Morris planned this renaming and restructuring in order to distance itself from the ever-increasing liability of selling tobacco, a product that kills more than a third of its long-term users. As part of this strategy, Philip Morris hopes to be perceived as an outstanding corporate citizen by increasing its philanthropy under the name of Altria. But don't be deceived. Don't allow Philip Morris to win by corporate sleight of hand. Accepting gifts from Altria is the same thing as accepting gifts from Philip Morris: it allows the company to buy legitimacy and respectability while ignoring its starring role in the deaths of millions worldwide every year-over 400,000 in the United States alone.
Philip Morris/Altria also now claims it is trying to be "responsible" by acknowledging on its website that cigarettes are addictive and dangerous—ending decades of denial. A genuinely responsible company, faced with its role in the deaths of millions, would—at minimum—stop marketing this addictive product that would not be allowed on the market if introduced today.
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Here's the article from the American Journal of Public Health referred to on the AltriaMeansTobacco.com homepage (my just previous post):
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Am J Public Health. 2003 April; 93(4): 553–556.
PMCID: PMC1447789
Copyright © American Journal of Public Health 2003
Altria Means Tobacco: Philip Morris's Identity Crisis (http://http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=12660196)
Elizabeth A. Smith, PhD and Ruth E. Malone, PhD, RN
Elizabeth A. Smith is with the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco. Ruth E. Malone is with the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Nursing, and the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco.
Requests for reprints should be sent to Elizabeth A. Smith, PhD, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Box 0612, Laurel Heights Campus, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143 (e-mail: http://www.pmdocs.com (http://www.pmdocs.com)), which provides access to millions of corporate documents, released as a result of the settlement of the state attorneys general lawsuits. Using terms such as "image," "corporate identity," and "Altria," as well as names of individuals and consulting companies in a "snowball" search strategy,2 we found more than 400 relevant documents dating back to the late 1980s. We also examined news articles following Philip Morris's announcement.
ALTRIA
Changing the corporate name is a long-term strategy for the company, having been under discussion since 1989.3 This effort has involved several consulting groups and public relations firms over the past dozen years; extensive, repeated surveys of the public and opinion leaders; and high-level corporate meetings. Philip Morris executives believed that a name change might solve a multitude of problems. The company's consultants, the Wirthlin Group, concluded in 1992 that Philip Morris had relatively low name recognition, given its dominance in the cigarette and food markets. That recognition was almost entirely negative, associated only with tobacco.4 Publicity would exacerbate the problem. That same year, a Worldwide Corporate Affairs Network workshop on "ways to win with" various constituencies suggested that financial analysts, state and local governments, retail consumers, and the general public would all respond positively to "a more neutral corporate name."5 The Wirthlin Group concurred: "The name change alternative offers the possibility of masking the negatives associated with the tobacco business,"6 thus enabling the company to improve its image and raise its profile without sacrificing tobacco profits.
Philip Morris executives thought a name change would insulate the larger corporation and its other operating companies from the political pressures on tobacco. Previously, "Philip Morris" referred to the tobacco operating companies (Philip Morris USA and Philip Morris International), the Philip Morris Capital Corporation (an industrial leasing company), and the larger corporation, Philip Morris Companies, which also encompassed Kraft. Thus, tobacco control advocates could easily link the relatively uncontroversial food business to the cigarette industry through the parent company name. These connections were particularly useful for organizing boycotts (see http://www.infact.org (http://www.infact.org)).
Under a new name, however, those links will be much less obvious. "Philip Morris" will apply only to the tobacco companies. After establishing the new name, according to a 1993 meeting transcript, the company planned to tell pressure groups, "You should talk to our operating companies about specific issues."7 The different names will distance the corporation and its other operating companies from negative publicity. The relationship will be similar to that of Lorillard and Loews. Although the tobacco company Lorillard is wholly owned by Loews, neither Loews nor its consumer subsidiaries, Bulova, Loews Hotels, and CNA Financial Services (see http://www.loews.com/A557CC/Loews.nsf/aboutloews.htm (http://www.loews.com/A557CC/Loews.nsf/aboutloews.htm)), have been a significant target of tobacco control efforts.
There are more tangible reasons for a name change as well. Philip Morris's Corporate Affairs Five-Year Plan for 1990 to 1994 declared that image could affect the company's marketing success, legislative success, financial ratings, and ability to hire and retain good employees.8 A concurring 1994 proposal from CS First Boston Bank asserted that Philip Morris stock was undervalued because Philip Morris was "perceived [italics in original]" to be a tobacco company. If Philip Morris did nothing about this, the bank warned, it would continue to suffer financially: "we do not believe the tobacco 'taint' will be short lived."9
The name "Altria" was chosen out of many possibilities.10 Once it was announced, one brand consultant remarked that the name's purpose was "to make [Philip Morris] invisible."11 Another consultant implicitly agreed. "As a consumer brand name, Altria would be dreadful because you don't know what it means. . . . But since the only thing you will be able to buy that is called Altria will be a share of stock," he concluded that it didn't matter.12 The actual meaning of "Altria" has been a matter of discussion in the media. Philip Morris claimed it was derived from the Latin "altus," meaning "high," representing the company's desire to " 'reach higher' to achieve greater financial strength and corporate responsibility."13 Some commentators pointed out that the "r" in Altria suggests a derivation from "altruism."14 Philip Morris denied that this was the intention.13
Company executives recognized that a name change had some potential hazards. One was that "ome might well attack the move as running from tobacco."15 Even worse was the fear that the company "will be instantaneously labeled a tobacco company as soon as we launch the repositioning. . . . No gain. . . . Lots of pain!"7 To counter this, Philip Morris had to "create a perception of change that is deeper than just a name change," public relations firm Burson-Marsteller warned.3 Philip Morris management concurred: "This is critical to credibility."7 If it turned out to be only a name change, "it's doomed."6,7
"CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS"
Philip Morris executives also discussed new ways of formulating the company's identity. Shortly after the acquisition of Kraft, Guy Smith, the vice president of corporate affairs, acknowledged that "for decades the company has spent enormous sums of money instilling in the public mind what it is—a tobacco company." Consequently, "altering that perception is a formidable task."16 Variations of "consumer packaged goods company" were used for this purpose throughout the early 1990s.4,7,8,17,18 The Wirthlin Group found in 1993 that "simply providing a full description of the company as a 'leading consumer products company' " led people to rate the company much more favorably.19 And at a corporate meeting held in late 1993 to discuss "repositioning" Philip Morris, it was suggested that the company "explore redefining investor category of packaged consumer goods. . . . In other words, create a new category and name ourselves No. 1!"7 This phrase had another advantage: "Forty percent of the general public can't even guess what a consumer packaged goods company is; the rest offer a wide variety of definition [sic]."17 Or, as someone wrote on the Wirthlin Group's chart demonstrating this fact, the "term has no meaning to people."20
Such repositioning had its own risks. Emphasizing Philip Morris's size could bring a backlash. Philip Morris wanted the sheer number (more than 200) of food and beverage brands they owned to signify "choice" to consumers.17,21–23 But their consultants pointed out that it might instead suggest "high prices/less choice because it is monopolistic." The consultants recommended that Philip Morris "avoid the big business association with greed/profit orientation."4
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Philip Morris's name change to The Altria Group will be a very expensive undertaking—indeed, it doubtless already has been—and the company expects to reap great rewards. Chief among these are increased stock value, greater credibility and favor among the public and opinion leaders, and concomitantly more political, legislative, and social influence. Underpinning all of these are the company's hopes of acquiring a layer of insulation between the larger corporation and the legal and ethical consequences of being in the tobacco business.
Unless tobacco control activists take a strong, persistent, and consistent stand to combat Philip Morris's new image campaign, it could well succeed. According to a national opinion survey sponsored by Philip Morris, the general public believed that Philip Morris could change its image by getting out of the cigarette business, being "honest (especially about the relationship between smoking and cancer)," or stopping tobacco advertising, especially that aimed at children. But some also responded that "The easiest way out would be to change their name."4,19
This will be a struggle over image, and the company has a powerful advantage. Philip Morris has been in the business of marketing a product that is almost entirely image for over 150 years.24 The meaning of cigarettes lies entirely in their packaging and marketing—a brand's actual qualities have little to do with the public's perception of it. Yet each brand has a distinct identity and meaning of its own; even nonsmokers can name "differences" between Virginia Slims, Marlboro, and Benson & Hedges.
Philip Morris will be marketing its new image, "consumer packaged goods company," and new name, Altria, which, like cigarettes, are empty vessels waiting to be filled with meaning. Tobacco control advocates should try to establish that meaning before the company can.
So far, Philip Morris has been extremely cagey. In news stories, company spokespeople have emphasized that the new name is for "clarity" and reflects Philip Morris's "evolution."1 But the company's internal documents show that Altria, rather than clarifying, is intended to obscure the fact that Philip Morris's main source of profits is still tobacco.13 Although numerous negative or sarcastic commentaries about the name have been published, Philip Morris has not responded.12,14,25–29 Steve Parrish, senior vice president for corporate affairs, denies that Philip Morris is attempting to distance itself from tobacco. "We are not lessening our commitment to the business," he told the New York Times. "Philip Morris means tobacco."30
He gives the impression of candor, but the reality is subtler. "Philip Morris" will continue to refer to tobacco, while Altria avoids the connotation. Philip Morris has been working on this change for more than a dozen years. Now that it has been announced, the company is prepared for the transition to take time.
Philip Morris wants to change its image without appearing to try. Like the class misfit trying to fit in with the cool kids, Philip Morris knows that the appearance of effort is fatal, drawing attention to why it shouldn't be accepted by the community of "good corporate citizens." Therefore, Philip Morris would have us believe that they have already made the necessary changes. The company is presenting the name and repositioning as the culmination of a "successful effort to improve the image of the Philip Morris family of companies."1 This effort has included "Ask First/It's the Law" (a program that stipulated company sanctions on retailers who sold cigarettes to minors)31 and the launch of the Philip Morris Web site in 1999.32 The Web site (http://www.philipmorris.com (http://www.philipmorris.com)) acknowledges that smoking is addictive and causes cancer and other diseases.
Parrish described the Web site as part of program of "constructive engagement."32 Although he claimed to the press that this was an effort to "open a dialogue,"33 his remarks in internal documents stress that the Web site is part of an "image enhancement effort."32 Philip Morris's support of anti–domestic violence programs is yet another part of this effort.30 The company has spent more on publicizing their philanthropy in this and other arenas than they spent on the good works themselves, which strongly suggests that image is more important than charity.34,35 Philip Morris claims that the company is already "viewed as changing for the better and becoming a more responsible corporate citizen."1 Some tobacco control advocates have argued that the name change represents a change in direction from these image enhancement efforts.36 However, the documents make clear that they are all part of one well-planned and coordinated campaign.
WHAT CAN ADVOCATES DO?
Philip Morris changed its name to The Altria Group on January 27, 2003 (see http://www.altria.com (http://www.altria.com)). One of Philip Morris's biggest fears was that change would be futile, since the new company would remain identified with tobacco. Therefore, advocates must spotlight and sustain public awareness of the Altria–tobacco link. Altria is being positioned as "responsible" and "open and responsive to evolving societal demands" (according to http://www.altria.com/about_altria/01_0 ... airman.asp (http://www.altria.com/about_altria/01_01_02_MessageChairman.asp)). Advocates' demand should be clear and unmistakable: stop marketing tobacco. Truly responsible business practice demands nothing less. Advocates should ask the company to respond publicly, meaningfully and responsibly to that demand, in keeping with the company's own statements. Until that happens, "Altria means tobacco" should be a guiding principle for any antismoking campaign aimed at Altria.
Additionally, Philip Morris's own research indicates that they are very unpopular with the public and with leaders.19,37–40 "Altria is Philip Morris" is another message advocates should work to deliver.
Advocates should also resist being sidelined to the Philip Morris operating company. The Wirthlin Group concluded that "The environment for the company is not favorable particularly if we are positioned narrowly" and that "fighting public battles over tobacco issues" was not an effective tactic and could even make influencing policy "more difficult . . . if linked to tobacco too directly [italics in original]."23 "Altria" is an effort to broaden the issues, to include food and beverages in the discussion, thereby diluting the tobacco issue. Thus, it is important to make Altria fight those battles. Force them to explain why "Altria" is different or should not be held accountable; this will keep the tobacco connections out in the open.
Philip Morris's use of "choice" should be undermined in precisely the ways they fear. Contrast choice with addiction, and with the involuntary inhalation of secondhand smoke. Public health advocates could develop campaigns that contrast "choice" with "monopoly" as well. Philip Morris's consultants warned that that the company "must avoid publicity and perceptions that dramatize its size, such as how much of the grocery shelf space/sales are controlled by P/M."4
This may be a useful image for advocates to appropriate. It's difficult to talk about the multitude of brands that Philip Morris owns, but emphasizing Philip Morris's monopolistic tendencies might be a way around that problem. Rather than specifying each individual brand, advocates might talk about the company's dominance of entire categories, such as cigarettes, cookies, and cereal. (For a complete list of Philip Morris products, see http://www.altria.com/download/pdf/inve ... _Sect8.pdf (http://www.altria.com/download/pdf/investors_2001_AnnRpt_ProdList_Sect8.pdf)).
Advocates could also work to undermine phrases such as "consumer packaged goods company." Philip Morris is counting on the phrase's meaninglessness to gloss over the content of their business. Tobacco control campaigns could encourage people to ask: What goods? What's in the package? These questions can be framed to apply both to tobacco and to business practices such as aggressive marketing in developing countries and political contributions and campaigns.
Anticipating attacks, Philip Morris has purchased Web domain names such as http://www.altriakills.com (http://www.altriakills.com), http://www.altria-stinks.org (http://www.altria-stinks.org), and http://www.altriasucks.net (http://www.altriasucks.net). (The authors have acquired http://www.altriameanstobacco.com (http://www.altriameanstobacco.com), where a free presentation of information discussed in this commentary and helpful links are available.) Persistence is likely to be important. Humor may also be a useful tool in impressing on people the Altria–tobacco link (cartoon).
None of these strategies is new. However, they will be more important now Philip Morris has succeeded in changing its name to The Altria Group. This move is part of a campaign to boost Philip Morris's visibility and reputation, while concealing its tobacco interests. It could be successful, particularly in combination with increasing attention to overseas markets, where tobacco control is not as well developed as in the United States. It is up to advocates to make sure that Altria does mean tobacco.
Acknowledgments
Funding for this study was provided by the National Cancer Institute (grant CA090789).
We thank Larry Goldsmith and Naphtali Offen for their comments and suggestions.
Notes
Both authors contributed to conceptualization, data collection, and the writing of the manuscript.
Peer Reviewed
References
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