by Lauren Purkey | Nyhus
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaigns are a growing trend in the business world. Yet, too often these campaigns make brands appear more environmentally or socially responsible than they really are. The Pepsi Refresh Project, which awards funds to philanthropic organizations based on input and votes from Pepsi consumers (who amass more clout by drinking more Pepsi products), is a case in point. BMSG's Andrew Cheyne, quoted in this article, calls such CSR efforts "diversion tactic[s]."by Thom Forbes | MediaPost
Thursday, August 23, 2012
A coalition of advocacy groups including the Center for Digital Democracy and Berkeley Media Studies Group have charged five major marketers with violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The coalition has filed five separate complaints with the FTC, saying the marketers are engaging in "unfair and deceptive marketing practices that use refer-a-friend campaigns to induce children to engage in viral marketing."by James Temple | SFGate
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
McDonald's, General Mills, Subway, Nickelodeon and the Cartoon Network could all be violating online privacy rules designed to protect children. BMSG has joined the Center for Digital Democracy and 15 other groups in urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and take action to stop the violations.by Katy Bachman | AdWeek
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Six child-targeted websites asking young visitors to "tell a friend" or "refer a friend" may be violating children's online privacy laws. BMSG has joined The Center for Digital Democracy and 15 other children's health, privacy and consumer advocacy organizations in urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate these practices.by Staff | QSRweb.com
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
A coalition of children's, health, privacy and consumer advocacy organizations, led by the Center for Digital Democracy and including Berkeley Media Studies Group, has filed five separate complaints this week with the Federal Trade Commission, calling for an investigation into possible violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by major marketers.by Chris Marlowe | DigitalMediaWire
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Viacom's Nickelodeon and Turner Broadcasting's Cartoon Network are among five groups named in formal complaints to the Federal Trade Commission accusing them of using digital marketing techniques that violate the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. Berkeley Media Studies Group joined the Center for Digital Democracy and 15 other organizations in filing the complaints.by Staff | NYR Natural News
Monday, July 09, 2012
In light of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to limit the size of sugary beverages and growing concern about the health effects of soda, the beverage industry is scrambling to improve its public image. Part of its strategy involves using corporate social responsibility campaigns to deflect scrutiny. BMSG's Andrew Cheyne explains that these campaigns echo those of the tobacco industry.by Alice G. Walton | The Atlantic
Monday, July 02, 2012
Soda companies' "corporate social responsibility" campaigns subtly shift responsibility for healthfulness onto the consumer and away from companies' fattening products, according to a new study from the Berkeley Media Studies Group and the Public Health Advocacy Institute.
by Elizabeth Wilner | Advertising Age
Friday, June 29, 2012
Using tactics similar to those of Big Tobacco, other industries are trying to hide the dangers of their products, and public health advocates say they need to be similarly outed and regulated. A paper by the Berkeley Media Studies Group and the Public Health Advocacy Institute points out that soda companies have fine-tuned Big Tobacco's strategies and began using corporate social responsibility campaigns far sooner to try and head off regulation.by Staff | Food Product Design
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Last week PLoS Medicine magazine launched a three-part series on "Big Food" that examines the activities and influence of the food and beverage industry on public health. The series includes a study from BMSG and the Public Health Advocacy Institute that compares the corporate social responsibility campaigns of the soda industry and Big Tobacco.
