Healthy Skepticism Library item: 4497

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

Schwartz H.
The medical journals and drug advertising—the Schwartz view
Scrip Magazine 1992 Jul-Aug; (6):15-16

Abstract:

The main, or sole, support for medical journals is revenue from pharmaceutical advertising. Therefore, competition among journals to attract pharmaceutical advertising if fierce. In order to attract advertising, journals must have good readership figures. Even the elite magazines maintain a professional staff of advertising salesmen. To reinforce their credibility and independence in their readers’ eyes, journals will print letters and articles critical of the pharmaceutical industry. A recent article in the Annals of Internal Medicine on the quality of journal advertisements has raised a number of questions. Will the editors of Annals give space for a response of equal prominence and length? There are a number of criticisms of the article, some raised by the editors of the Annals.

Keywords:
*analysis/United States/ scientific publications/ad revenue/editorial freedom/journal advertisements/quality of information/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: MEDICAL JOURNALS/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: JOURNAL ADVERTISEMENTS/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PUBLICATION