Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3949

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Helwig D.
There's no room for freebies in medical journalism.
CMAJ 1989 Mar 1; 140:(5):542-3

Abstract:

Medical writers and reporters regularly receive invitations for free travel. If these favours are offered without obligation is it really wrong for a publication to accept them? From a journalistic point of view, the danger is that the products of junket-offering companies will attract more coverage than equally effective or even superior products made by competitors that do not provide junkets. Medical periodicals should draft and publish written codes of ethics applicable to both staff and freelance writers.

Keywords:
*analysis/Canada/conflict of interest/journalists/gift giving/industry generated publicity/PROMOTION DISGUISED: PRESS CONFERENCES AND PRESS COVERAGE/SPONSORSHIP: JOURNALISTS Canada Drug Industry* Ethics* Public Relations Writing*