Abstract
In this letter, Washington, D.C. media consultant (and Philip Morris contractor) Richard Hines responds to a request from Philip Morris for assistance in influencing the European Media. Hines proposes to Matthew Winokur (of Philip Morris Worldwide Regulatory Affairs) that PM fund a journalism internship program through the National Journalism Center to produce a stable of journalists sympathetic to PM issues.
As a follow-up to this proposal Hines adds,
"In turn we could promote the 'care and feeding' of journalists to develop a network sympathetic to Philip Morris."
Hines describes the success of similar existing programs, bragging about how they succesfully influence major media in the U.S.:
"Using this approach in the U.S. we have been able to get favorable articles/commentaries in major publications such as the Wall Street Journal, National Review and reach millions of the public through the numerous syndicated columnists that are in our network. Moreoever, using this approach we can develop a sustainable media presence in Europe that can be accessed for numerous issues."
In a related document discussing the proposal Winokur states that the intern program proposed by Hines would have "a longer term payback" for Philip Morris. (PM Bates No. 202549677)
This document describes just one facet of type of activities tobacco companies engaged in behind the scenes to influence the worldwide media on its issues.
Fields
- Notes
The National Journalism Center trains journalists and places them with major news media outlets. It has placed journalists at media outlets as the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN, Chicago Tribune, San Franciso Chronicle, Cleveland Plain Dealer, San Deigo Union, Orange County Register, Time Magazine, the New York Times, NBC, Newsweek, and many more. (This information taken from PM Bates No. 2025496779)
- Quotes
May 26, 1994
Mr. Matt Wlnokur
Director
International Regulatory Affairs
Philip Morris
120 Park Ave., 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Dear Mr. Winokur:
In reference to your request for a proposal relating to news media relations in the European market relayed to me through Dr. Thomas Borelli of Philip Morris Corporate Affairs, allow me to offer a few ideas...
You may be somewhat familiar with our work with Dr. Borelll
involving various policy institutes in the United States and our development of a network of receptive journalists, television commentators and editorialists. One successful approach we have employed is our work with the National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C. NJC conducts on-going intern programs for college students and recent college graduates and also assists their graduates to obtain jobs in major media organizations. I attach a
partial list of NJC alumni hired or published in major media...
...My rudimentary proposal is this; in a manner similar to our approach in the U.S.,Philip Morris should fund special programs by thge Adam Smith and Kreible Institutes to conduct journalism programs. These would consist of intern programs and policy forum focusing on regulatory threats to industry and "political" science. In turn, we would then promote the "care and feeding" of key journalists to develop a network sympathetic to Philip Morris concerns...
...Ulinke most plans that focus on getting one message out to the mass media our plan focuses on getting our message out to selected network of journalists. Using this approach in the U.S. we have been able to get favorable articles/commentaries in major publications such as the Wall Street Journal, National ReEview and reach millions of the public through the numerous syndicated columnists that are in our network...
- Company
- Philip Morris
- Author
- Hines, Richard T. (Washington D.C. media consultant to Philip Morris)
Proposed in a May 1994 letter to Matthew Winokur of PM Worldwide Regulatory Affairs that PM fund journalism internships through the National Journalsim center to create a stable of journalists sympathetic to PM issues.
- Recipient
- #13434 (Winokur, Matt)
RegionUnited States
Europe
Named OrganizationCNN -Cable News Network
Congressional Research Service
EPA, Environmental Protection Agency
Krieble Institute
National Journalism Center
National Review
Wall Street Journal
Adam Smith Institute
LitigationStmn/Produced
Named PersonBorelli, Thomas J. (PM Corporate Scientific Affairs Mgr., 1990)Manager of Corporate Scientific Affairs for Philip Morris in 1990. Also worked for PM Corporate Services in Brussels.
Gravelle, Jane G (scientist)1994 tesified that there was not evidence to support the claim that ETS exposure presetns substantial health effects.
Sullum, Jacob (journalist)Managing editor of "Reason" magazine. Also worked at "National Review." Sullum argued that news accounts of the Environmental Protection Agency's 1993 report on second-hand smoke were "one-sided, credulous and superficial," and that journalists "missed an important story about the corruption of science by the political crusade against smoking." The Reason Foundation, which employed Sullum when he wrote the article criticizing the EPA, received at least $10,000 from Philip Morris in 1993 (AP, 6/24/94), and got further funding from Philip Morris subsidiary Kraft General Foods (L.A. Times, 7/18/94). Sullum himself has received $5,000 from R.J. Reynolds, another major cigarette company (Richmond Times Dispatch, 6/30/94)--to reprint another article he wrote about secondhand smoke. Sullum's ties to the tobacco industry were exposed in a 1994 article by FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting) which can be seen at http://www.fair.org/extra/9409/smoke.html
TypeLETT, LETTER
Subjectmass media
media advocacy
media coverage
funding
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MRY 26 '94 15:36 6283498
RICFiARD T. HU1ES CONSULTING. INC.
73313dh saeec NW 7th Pfoor
WachimAooa, DC 20005
(2202) 393-0720 FAX (302) 393-0079
May 26, 1994
Mr. Mat t 11i nokur
Director
International Regulatory Affairs
Philip Morris
120 Park Ave., 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Dear Mr. Winokur:
P.2/5
In reference to your request tor a proposal relating to news
media relations in the European market relayed to me through Dr.
Thomas Borelli of Philip Morris Corporate Affairs, allow me to
offer a few ideas.
r
To date, it is true that the international tobacco business
has avoided some of the negative pressures that have affected
Philip Morris in the United States. In this day and age of CNN and
instant communication, this will not be the case indefinitely.
You may be somewhat familiar with our work with Dr. Borelli
involving various policy Institutes in the United States and our
development of a network of receptive Journalists, television
commentators and editorialists. One successful approach we have
employed is our work with the National Journalism Center in
Washington, D.C. NJC conducts on-going intern programs for college
students and recent college graduates and also assists their
graduates to obtain .1obs in maJor media organizations. I attach a
partial list of NJC alumni hired or published in maJor media.
I would like to take this opportunity to endorse your Idea of
exporting for European publication maJor American studies which
/ support our position, especially the May ii, 1884 testimony of Jane
,/ G. Gravelle of the Congressional Research Service. This is the
simple most significant document by an agency of the U.S.
Government.supporting the Industry's view of EPA's fatally flawed
study on ETS. If this testimony supported the "anti" position, we
would already be hearing about it in the print and television media
in Europe. Dissemination of the CRS material would be an iemediate
and concrete benefit of our proposed'proJect with European policy
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MAY 26 '94 15:37 6283498 P.3i5
;.
*00114P
inst itutes .
Our approach to the European media would be similar In concept
to what we have done in America. I have worked closely for many
years with the Adam Smith Institute, a tree market, anti-regulatory
policy institute based in London and active throughout Western
Europe. In Eastern Europe, more recently we have developed a
strong relationship with the Krieble Institute based in Moscow,
which pursues a similar program to Adam Smith throughout the
region.
Since 1988, the Krieble Institute has been facilitating this
transition to democracy and free markets by bringing successful
American entrepreneurs to the former Soviet Union for face-to-face
meeting with businessmen. In 1993, the Krieble Institute conducted
22 maJor conferences in 12 different cities in the former Communist
bloc, and over 20 mini-conierences in the former Soviet Union. The
Krieble Institute wishes to expand its operations by founding a
school of Journalism. Pro-free market, entrepreneurial views are
often well-presented in the print media in Europe. However, the
Krieble Institute seeks to sustain and improve this coverage by
training and sending young Journalists to work in the print media
of Europe.
Their are literally dozens of additional lree market policy
groups throughout Europe with which we have contacts. More
importantly, through these policy groups- especially the Adam Smith
and Krieble Institutes, we have developed lists of key media
contacts in each European country.
My rudimentary proposal is this; in a manner similar to our
approach In the U.S., Philip Morris should fund special programs by
~ the Adam Smith and Krieble Institutes to conduct Journalism
ro rams These would consist ot intern programs and policy torums
-' & Ph li Y i
focusing on regulatory threats to indus ry an political" science.
in turn, we would then promote the "care and feeding" of key
~ V tournalists to develop a network sympathetie o i p orr s
concerns.
The tollowin is a PreliminarY roPosal that out lines a
p
~~I g
media/policy plan that could be executed in Europe. Unlike most-
~ plans that focus on getting one message out to the mass media our
plan focuses on getting our message out to selected network oi./
,lournalists. Using this approach In the U.S. we have been able.to
get favorable articles/commentaries in major publications such as
the Wall Stree, ournal, National Review and reach millions ot the
~'~~ pub c through the numerous syndicated columnists that are in our
network. Moreover, using this approach we can develop a
sustainable media presence in Europe that can be accessed for
numerous issues.
~
~
For success in Europe we would execute the following:
-Establish the network... identiYy Journalists that are,--CA
receptive to our message. 4A.
-Provide supporting material to these Journalists on a~
~
~
~
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MAY 26 '94 15:37 6283498 P.4i5
continuing basis.
-Train and educate Journalists via policy groups seminars and
internship programs.
It is essential that we utilize European based policy groups
to execute this program. The policy groups serve as the link to
identity Journalists as well as provide local and continual contact
with selected media. These policy groups can sponsor conferences,
publish magazines and newsletters as well as sponsor ,lournalist
iAternship programs.
As a second phase. to this idea piece, I will be pleased to
provide you with funding proposals for the Adam Smith and Krieble
Institutes and a step by step Implementation plan for our European
media relations program.
Richard T. Hines
President
