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Reuters
\n\tJan. 23, 2002<\/p>\n
\tLorillard Tobacco Co. said on Tuesday it planned to ask a judge to put a halt to a hard-hitting advertising campaign against youth smoking, saying the ads wrongfully vilified cigarette makers.<\/p>\n
\tThe maker of the "truth" ad campaign, which was fundd by a 1998 settlement betwen the tobacco industry and 48 states, called Lorillard's move "unwarranted and outrageus."<\/p>\n
\tLorillard is creating "a smoke screen to hide the company's real goal, which is to crush the 'truth' campaign because it's working to stop kids from smoking," said American Legacy Foundation President Dr. Cheryl Healton.<\/p>\n
\tGreensboro, North Carolina-based Lorillard, a unit of Loews Corp. (LTR), said it has notified the foundation, as required by the tobacco settlement, that it intends in 30 days to ask a state judge, in a location not yet announced, to put an end to the campaign unless the foundation changes its tune.<\/p>\n
\tThe company said it notified the foundation of its intent last Friday.<\/p>\n
\tThe campaign, featuring print, radio, television and Internet advertisements, has included television ads depicting body bags symbolizing people who have died from smoking.<\/p>\n
\tPart of the massive tobacco settlement with the states was devoted to funding advertising campaigns intended to combat youth smoking.<\/p>\n
\tLorillard spokesman Steve Watson said the foundation is violating provisions in the settlement forbidding advertising that personally attacks any employees of a tobacco company or vilifies companies themselves.<\/p>\n
\t"They have continuously shown a pattern of vilification, and most recently have specifically attacked Lorillard with a radio ad which suggested that we put dog urine in our cigarettes," Watson told Reuters.<\/p>\n
\t"We do not put dog urine or have we ever put dog urine in our cigarettes."<\/p>\n
\tThe settlement provides the American Legacy Foundation with about $300 million per year, according to foundation spokesman Bill Furmanski. He said the foundation has budgeted about $94 million for the "truth" campaign during its current fiscal year, which ends on June 30.<\/p>\n
\tHealton said her foundation does not engage in personal attacks or vilification.<\/p>\n
\t"Anyone who has seen 'truth' ads knows they educate young people about the addictiveness, health effects and social costs of tobacco, which is exactly what the MSA (master settlement agreement) says they must do," she said.<\/p>\n
\tThe foundation said the ads "are edgy and use irreverent humor because that's the best way to capture and hold the attention of teens."<\/p>\n
\tBut in its letter, which the foundation released on Tuesday, Lorillard said "the message of the 'truth' campaign has consistently strayed far afield from the facts concerning tobacco products and their effect on users."<\/p>\n
\t"We think the ALF pattern of advertising clearly goes beyond the bounds of ethical and education advertising," Watson said. "However, we support the mission of the American Legacy Foundation which under the MSA states it to be part of the nationwide effort to reduce youth smoking by educating parents and kids about the health risks associated with smoking."<\/p>\n
\tFAIR USE NOTICE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" < Reuters Jan. 23, 2002 Lorillard Tobacco Co. said on Tuesday it planned to ask a judge to put a halt to a hard-hitting advertising campaign against youth smoking, saying the ads wrongfully vilified cigarette makers. The maker of the … Continue reading