Smoking In The Media

Smoking in the Media

Tobacco has plagued the world since the Native Americans introduced it to the European settlers. The dangerous effects of smoking have been devastating the bodies of in takers ever since tobacco was invented. The number of tobacco smokers has changed since the 1400’s. Now in modern times, the introduction of Radio, Television, and other forms of media, has affected smoking habits. It has been proven that consumers make choices based on sights and sounds, so now smoking companies are spending billions of dollars to advertise their products. They take every opportunity to promote their products and even twist the truth to make their products more attractive to the public. Tobacco companies make their advertising look fun,
Society was thinking the same thing, so individuals began taking action along with the government. In Chicago, inner-city church members and the surgeon general protested against cigarette billboards being too close to schools and in too many neighborhoods. There were similar protests in New York, Baltimore, Dallas and Detroit. Joseph W. Cherner, former worker on Wall St., spends $100,000 each year to fight against tobacco ads in NY. He started antismoking contest that brought in 107,000 antismoking posters from students. Cherner has also helped ban tobacco ads in NY buses and subways (Lee, Mary Price, and Richard S. Lee, 51). The media contains funny antismoking campaigns like cartoons; Garry Trudeau makes a comic strip called “Doonesbury”. He uses Mr. Butt to make fun of reasons for smoking. “Far Side”, another cartoon that Gary Larson produces, had three trucks carrying ads, one showing Joe Camel with sly smile holding pack of cigs as a way of death (Lee, Mary Price, and Richard S. Lee, 52). There are also paid advertisements in the media going against smoking. Celebrities are also in the fight against smoking: Nancy Reagan started the “Just Say No” program. Reverend Jesse Jackson, Ben Vereen, and Michael Jordon have also given a hand in antismoking campaigns. Orlando Woolridge, of the L.A Lakers, and rap star Deezer D have produced TV ads for a $26.8 million antismoking campaign. MTV
Since the smoking commercials have been banned from television, anti smoking commercials have taken their place and now are trying to outweigh the effects of the other forms of smoking advertising. Behind those commercials are the antismoking campaigns, these campaigns function through the internet. A famous antismoking campaign is “The Truth”. Their website, www.TheTruth.com, contains the dirty facts of smoking companies and their actions. It also has information on the effects of smoking on the body, effects of smoking on the world, and the repulsive ingredients and chemicals in a cigarette. The commercials they produce come across very strong and show disturbing images that leave the viewer thinking twice about taking up smoking or smoking their next cigarette. One of their current commercials has The Truth representatives going around New York City with big orange arrows, on the orange arrows are the terms that cigarette companies use to categorize their clients. Terms like “Problems with self-esteem”, “Has a menial boring job”, “Emotionally insecure”, “Passive aggressive”, “Grooming not a strong priority”, and “Lacks inner resources” (Crispin Porter and Bogusky. Facts. 2006. The Truth. 5/5/2006). They follow people in the streets with the arrow pointing at them. On their website, under the video, they write, “Turns out New Yorkers don't get all warm and fuzzy when you point them out with a big