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 editor@ 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 editor@ - note that we
are most interested in the editorials and columns which are starting to appear.