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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Led by Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA), Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-CA), 38 House Members sent a second letter to the publishers of 11 leading women’s magazines -Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, InStyle, Interview Magazine, Lucky, Marie Claire, Soap Opera Digest, Us Weekly, Vogue, and W- repeating their call for the magazines to voluntarily stop accepting misleading advertising for deadly cigarettes.
“Apparently these women’s magazines still don’t get it,” said Capps, a nurse and Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. “It’s been almost two months and we still haven’t had an adequate response from these women’s magazines about our concerns. Their silence speaks volumes. These Camel No. 9 ads are deceptive and dangerous for the public’s health, particularly the young women who are the apparent target of these ads. ‘Light and luscious’ sounds like a tasty treat, not a deadly dose of cancer causing cigarettes wrapped in pretty pink packaging. I hope these women’s magazines understand how serious this issue is. There’s nothing sexy or fashionable about dying young from cancer so why are these magazines plastering pictures of the pink Joe Camel next to ‘how-to’ articles on healthy living and hip hairstyles? As Members of Congress and as parents and grandparents concerned about young people’s health, we want answers and action to address the issues we’ve raised regarding these troubling ads.”
On June 5th Members sent a letter to these women’s magazines noting the irony of accepting these advertisements while simultaneously publishing articles offering important women’s health information. The Members were particularly concerned about the publication of ads for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s new cigarette, Camel No. 9, which are clearly targeted at enticing young women to smoke. Other women’s magazines with similar readership demographics and content have voluntarily adopted an institutional policy of rejecting cigarette advertising and the letter urged these remaining 11 women’s magazines to voluntarily stop accepting these ads. The 11 leading women’s magazines have failed to formally respond to the June 5th letter, prompting Members to send another letter requesting a formal response by August 15th.
A copy of the letter follows:
August 2, 2007
Ms. Kate White
Editor-in-Chief
Cosmopolitan
300 West 57th Street, 38th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Dear Ms. White:
On June 5, 2007, we wrote to you regarding the marketing of tobacco products to young women through tobacco advertisements in women’s magazines, including yours. Our particular concern was sparked by the advertisements your magazine ran for R.J. Reynolds’ new brand, Camel No. 9, which is targeted at young women, including teens. We are disappointed that you have not yet responded to our earlier letter, which is attached.
Since that time, the Attorney General of Ohio has notified RJ Reynolds of potential Master Settlement Agreement violations, including prohibited youth targeting and merchandise branding, in connection with the marketing of the Camel No. 9 brand. A copy of Attorney General Dann’s letter is attached for your information. Previously, five United States Senators brought concerns about the marketing of Camel No. 9 to the Federal Trade Commission.
We continue to ask that you voluntarily adopt an institutional policy of rejecting cigarette advertising aimed at young people. As you may know, a number of House Committees have expressed interest in this issue and it is our hope that we could engage with you in a constructive dialogue about additional steps that the media can take to help combat youth smoking initiation. Please respond to us by August 15, 2007.
If you have any further questions, please contact Amy Fisher in the office of Congresswoman Lois Capps at (202) 225-3601.
Sincerely,
Rep. Tom Allen
Rep. Tammy Baldwin
Rep. Shelley Berkley
Rep. Mary Bono
Rep. Corinne Brown
Rep. Lois Capps
Rep. Susan Davis
Rep. Rosa DeLauro
Rep. Lloyd Doggett
Rep. Keith Ellison
Rep. Eliot Engel
Rep. Anna Eshoo
Rep. Raúl Grijalva
Rep. Mazie K. Hirono
Rep. Dennis Kucinich
Rep. John Lewis
Rep. Zoe Lofgren
Rep. Nita Lowey
Rep. Carolyn Maloney
Rep. Edward Markey
Rep. Doris Matsui
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy
Rep. George Miller
Rep. Harry Mitchell
Rep. Grace F. Napolitano
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton
Rep. Todd Russell Platts
Rep. Loretta Sanchez
Rep. Jan Schakowsky
Rep. Louise Slaughter
Rep. Hilda L. Solis
Rep. Betty Sutton
Rep. Diane Watson
Rep. Henry A. Waxman
Rep. Robert Wexler
Rep. Lynn Woolsey
Rep. David Wu
Rep. Albert Wynn
Cc: Ms. Donna Kalajian Lagani, Publisher
***Please note that identical letters were sent to the editors and publishers of the following magazines: Elle, Glamour, InStyle, Interview Magazine, Lucky, Marie Claire, Soap Opera Digest, Us Weekly, Vogue, and W.
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