Walmart Stops Carrying Some Rifles
Walmart will stop some selling high-powered rifles, and the company says the decision is based on sales, not politics. Although speculation links the news to Wednesday's on-air shooting of two television reporters, Walmart's announcement came first.
Spokesman Cory Lundberg said, "It [the decision] was done purely based on customer demand." He also told Forbes, "We previously carried modern sporting rifles in less than a third of our stores. Our merchandising decisions are driven largely by customer demand. In our everyday course of doing business, we are continually reviewing and adjusting our product assortment to meet our customers' needs."
At the same time, news reports question Walmart's motivation. According to a New York Times article, sales of assault rifles have not fallen (although the sales process may be slowed by background checks). Further, after the terrible church shooting in Charleston, S.C., chief executive Doug McMillon "indicated in an interview with CNN that he wanted to curb sales of such weapons."
Discussion Starters:
- Why is Walmart focusing on sales rather than political motivations for discontinuing these guns? Consider Walmart's constituencies when you answer this question.
- Walmart has not posted a news release on its website to describe the decision. Why do you think the company might avoid this?
Google Fights EU's Antitrust Allegations
In a post on Google's "Europe Blog," Kent Walker, SVP & General Counsel, focuses on the company's innovation and quality. In a previous post, Google argued against the contention that search results favor the company. Now Google is trying to reframe the argument for us to see the value the company brings.
The first three paragraphs of the post, shown here, explain the European Commission's Statement of Objections (SO), including how Google ads shift users away from shopping on other websites.
The posts ends, "We believe that the SO's preliminary conclusions are wrong as a matter of fact, law, and economics. We look forward to discussing our response and supporting evidence with the Commission, in the interest of promoting user choice and open competition."
Discussion Starters:
- Assess the organization of Walker's post, particularly the paragraph organization. What principles of business communication are demonstrated by the article?
- Assess the video included in the blog post. What works well about the interviews and examples, and what could be improved? What value does the video add to the blog post?
Is Dr. Dre's Apology Enough?
The movie "Straight Outta Compton" about hip hop has raised questions about Dr. Dre's history of domestic violence. One victim called the film "revisionist history" because it omitted incidents of abuse by members of N.W.A.
Dr. Dre did issue this statement to The New York Times:
"Twenty-five years ago I was a young man drinking too much and in over my head with no real structure in my life. However, none of this is an excuse for what I did. I've been married for 19 years and every day I'm working to be a better man for my family, seeking guidance along the way. I'm doing everything I can so I never resemble that man again."
He added, "I apologize to the women I've hurt. I deeply regret what I did and know that it has forever impacted all of our lives."
Apple, which hires Dr. Dre as a top consultant, also issued a statement:
"Dre has apologized for the mistakes he's made in the past and he's said that he's not the same person that he was 25 years ago. After working with him for a year and a half, we have every reason to believe that he has changed."
Victims and reporters have been highlighting Dr. Dre's past. And the LA Times reported that an abuse scene was in an earlier version of the movie but was cut.
The controversy doesn't seem to be affecting movie goers. Box office results show "Straight Outta Compton" leading this weekend with $26 million in sales after a $60 million opening.
Discussion Starters:
- Are you convinced by Dr. Dre's apology? Is it enough?
- Did Apple do the right thing by issuing its own apology? What are the risks?
McDonald's Copies Burrito Ads
McDonald's has apologized for using photographs similar to another campaign. About a month ago, photos of a man getting engaged to a burrito were making the rounds on Twitter. Recently, McDonald's showed a series of photos of people in similar positions with its food. Compare the left and right images below, shown on Adweek.
David Sikorski, a freelance writer, told Adweek that he created the idea:
"I came up with the concept as a satirical take on the engagement photos that flood my everyday social media channels. The photos are in fact licensed. We gave permission to BuzzFeed for the first use of the photos within an article highlighting the project."
Kristina Bakrevski was the photographer for the campaign. She said, "My reaction was shock, disbelief. I was mad, even though a lot of friends told me the imitation was a form of flattery." For its part, McDonald's responded:
"This shouldn't have happened, and, with our agency partner, we're working to find out how it did. We're reaching out to David Sikorski and Kristina Bakrevski. We apologize to them, their fans and ours."
Discussion Starters:
- McDonald's statement says they will explore how this happened. What are your theories, and how could this have been prevented?
- What else, if anything, should McDonald's do? How could the company avoid a lawsuit at this point?
- Sikorski and Bakrevski said they would like to be paid. How much do you think is appropriate?
Update on Subway's Jared
Last month, Jared Fogle, who was featured in Subway's advertisements for more than 15 years, was under investigation for child pornography. At the time, the company reported that they "agreed to suspend their relationship." Now, Fogle intends to plead guilty to charges of paying for sex with minors and distributing child pornography. He is expected to serve 5 to 12 years in prison.
On its Twitter feed, Subway tried to announce the final cord-cut with a simple tweet but, 20 hours later, issued a second tweet, presumably after pressure to say more. Tweets asked, "Where are the disclosures?" and are calling for a boycott.
Discussion Starters:
- Was Subway's first tweet enough? Should the company have said more and, if so, what?
- Or, perhaps the company shouldn't have said anything at all. They had already "suspended" the relationship. What could have been the consequences of that decision?
- Did the second tweet add value? People want to hear more, but what else is there to say?
- Would you boycott Subway after hearing the news?
Amazon Responds to NYT Article
A New York Times article revealed a tough work environment at Amazon, and the company has responded. "Inside Amazon: Wrestling Big Ideas in a Bruising Workplace" includes examples of long working hours and little tolerance for employees' personal lives or health. Within three days, piece received more comments than any other NYT article.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos isn't happy about the portrayal. In an email to employees, Bezos wrote,
"The article doesn't describe the Amazon I know or the caring Amazonians I work with every day. But if you know of any stories like those reported, I want you to escalate to HR. You can also email me directly at jeff@amazon.com. Even if it's rare or isolated, our tolerance for any such lack of empathy needs to be zero.
"The article goes further than reporting isolated anecdotes. It claims that our intentional approach is to create a soulless, dystopian workplace where no fun is had and no laughter heard. Again, I don't recognize this Amazon and I very much hope you don't, either. More broadly, I don't think any company adopting the approach portrayed could survive, much less thrive, in today's highly competitive tech hiring market. The people we hire here are the best of the best. You are recruited every day by other world-class companies, and you can work anywhere you want."
Nick Ciubotariu, Amazon's head of infrastructure development, also wrote a rebuttal-a long piece with counterarguments for many claims in the article. He admits that some examples may have been true of Amazon in the past, but they don't reflect his experience today:
"During my 18 months at Amazon, I've never worked a single weekend when I didn't want to. No one tells me to work nights. No one makes me answer emails at night. No one texts me to ask me why emails aren't answered. I don't have these expectations of the managers that work for me, and if they were to do this to their Engineers, I would rectify that myself, immediately. And if these expectations were in place, and enforced upon me, I would leave."
Discussion Starters:
- Does the article change your opinion of Amazon? Will you still buy from the company? Would you apply for a job?
- Assess Ciubotariu's rebuttal. What are his most and least convincing arguments?
- How, if at all, should the New York Times reporter respond?
Marriott Hires Comedian for Video Campaign
Marriott is encouraging guests to book directly with the hotel rather than through third-party sites. In a video campaign, YouTube comedian Grace Helbig tells viewers to book on Marriott.com to "get the best rates right there. It pays to book direct."
The hashtag #ItPaysToBookDirect is getting some attention. One video was favorited on Twitter more than 800 times.
A USA Today Road Warriors article identifies six reasons to book online. The best reason is to avoid rouge booking sites that inflate prices and don't guarantee a room. Guests who book directly also may get a better room and better service.
Critics say Helbig is adding a "kinda-sorta-a-little-bit funny dose of humor" to the ads. She is, after all, a YouTube celebrity, whatever that means.
Discussion Starters:
- The grammar bugs me. The campaign needs the adverb directly (book directly). I realize the standards are different for marketing. Am I just being picky?
- What's your view of the online video campaign? Do you find the ads funny? Will they encourage people to book on Marriott.com?
University of Cincinnati Shooting
A University of Cincinnati campus police officer shot Samuel DuBose, whose car was pulled over for a missing license plate. A video taken from the officer's own body camera led people to consider the shooting "purposeful." A grand jury has indicted the officer for murder. If he is convicted, he faces 15 years to life in prison.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters has been outspoken about the situation.
In a news conference, Deters, who is a University of Cincinnati graduate, criticizes the UC police force:
"I graduated from UC twice, it's a wonderful university, I love their president, but they're not cops. And we have a great police department in Cincinnati, probably the best in Ohio. And I talked to the chief about it today, and I said 'you guys should be doing this stuff.' And I think he's in agreement with it.
"The university does a great job educating people, and they made a lawyer out of me, kinda, and that should be their job. Being police officers shouldn't be the role of this university. I don't think so. Now, they can interview these guys and I'm sure they have great cops in the university police department, but they should be held to the same standard, and if they were with the CPD, they would be held to the same standard in training CPD officers are. And I think it would be a good thing for the university."
Deters also says, "I've been doing this for over 30 years. This is the most asinine act I've ever seen a police officer make. Totally unwarranted. It's an absolute tragedy in the year 2015 that anyone would behave in this manner. It was senseless, and I met with the family just moments ago. It's just horrible."
Nothing appears on UC's website, including "News," which is prominent on its home page.
Discussion Starters:
- Should UC post something on its website? If so, what and where should it be placed?
- Is Deters doing the right thing? What's the relationship between a city's and a university's police force?
Reddit's CEO Change
Reddit has been a spiral of drama in the past few weeks. Wired gives a useful chronology of the CEO changes and other issues. Ellen Pao was hired as interim CEO in November 2014 after Yishan Wong resigned. Pao had been in the news because she was a junior investment partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and sued the firm for gender discrimination. She lost the suit, which went to trial, in March 2015.
At Reddit, Pao was criticized for banning several subreddits (topical groups within Reddit). Although Reddit was created as a place for free speech, some of it is hateful. But users felts that Pao overstepped in closing down some sites. More than 200,000 people signed a change.org petition calling for Pao's resignation.
In her resignation post, Pao thanked her supporters but focused on the trolls and hateful comments she had received. She asks people to consider others' humanity and writes, "So why am I leaving? Ultimately, the board asked me to demonstrate higher user growth in the next six months than I believe I can deliver while maintaining reddit's core principles."
According to Wired,
Reddit is home to some of the most hateful content on the Internet, but at least some of it appears to be here to stay. Reddit [new] CEO Steve Huffman said during an AMA [ask me anything] on the site today that the company would ban communities that "incite harm or violence against an individual or group of people," as well as any subreddit that "harasses, bullies, or abuses an individual or group of people."
But he did call out a specific racist subreddit by name-a name so offensive that we won't repeat it here-as an example of the kind of content that would remain, though likely under a new classification-an assurance that brought cheers from the subreddit's members.
Wired also summarizes Pao's resignation:
Some have decried Ellen Pao's resignation from Reddit as a step in the wrong direction for an industry where women leaders are still a distinct minority, but the site's detractors say good riddance. Though Reddit was originally intended as a place where the ideals of free speech and the wisdom of the crowd would reign, often the crowd turned into a mob.
Discussion Starters:
- People are so divided over Pao's resignation. What's your opinion? Was the decision best for the website? What are the consequences?
- How, if at all, does her Kleiner lawsuit factor into your opinion? What if she had won the case?
Subway Cuts Ties with Jared
After more than 15 years as the Subway poster-child, Jared Fogle may have to find a new gig. The company has cut ties with Fogle after learning about an investigation related to child pornography.
Fogle lost 245 pounds in 1999 and starred in his first Subway ad in January 2000 with the disclaimer, "The Subway diet, combined with a lot of walking, worked for Jared. We're not saying this is for everyone. You should check with your doctor before starting any diet program. But it worked for Jared." This started an advertising campaign to emphasize healthy food options at Subway.
Of course, Fogle may be exonerated of any wrongdoing. A raid on Fogle's home was instigated by the arrest of a former executive director of Fogle's nonprofit organization, whose mission is to combat childhood obesity.
Subway isn't taking any chances. In a statement, the company said, "Jared continues to cooperate with authorities and he expects no actions to be forthcoming. Both Jared and Subway agree that this was the appropriate step to take."
Discussion Starters:
- Did Subway do the right thing? What if Jared is proved innocent? Could he have legal grounds to sue Subway?
- Some believe it's time for Jared to go, anyway. What do you think, based on the company's performance, goals, and so on?
Twitter Announces CEO Change
Twitter CEO Dick Costolo will step down but remain on the board of directors. Costolo has been CEO since October 2010 and saw the company through an IPO, but performance has not met expectations. One of Twitters big investors wrote a long essay about how to improve the company. The stock was up between 7 and 8 percent in after-hours trading when the news broke.
Jack Dorsey, co-founder (with Evan Williams) and board chair, will serve as interim CEO while a search committee finds replacement. Twitter hired a PR firm to help manage the transition.
In a press release, the company quoted Costolo:
"I am tremendously proud of the Twitter team and all that the team has accomplished together during my six years with the Company. We have great leaders who work well together and a clear strategy that informs our objectives and priorities. There is no one better than Jack Dorsey to lead Twitter during this transition. He has a profound understanding of the product and Twitter's mission in the world as well as a great relationship with Twitter's leadership team. I am deeply appreciative of the confidence the Board, the management team and the employees have placed in me over the years, and I look forward to supporting Twitter however I can going forward."
According to TechCrunch, employees were fond of Costolo:
"Internally, sources say many employees loved Costolo. He brought order to Twitter when it was still in its chaotic adolescence, and turned it into a serious business. Whoever comes next will have to transition Twitter from something for news junkies and public figures to a service the average person can love."
Costolo got a standing ovation when he announced the news to staff.
Discussion Starters:
- If you were the project lead from the PR firm hired to help Twitter with the transition, what would you advise the management team? Consider the company's constituencies, message strategy, and media choice.
- What are the challenges for an incoming CEO, particularly following someone "loved" by employees?
NY Governor Responds to Prison Break
Governor Andrew Cuomo is on the hot seat responding to a prison break in Upstate New York. Two convicted murderers obtained power tools and escaped from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, NY.
A New York Times article says Cuomo sees the situation as a political "opportunity":
"Mr. Cuomo canceled a trip to the Belmont Stakes on Saturday so he could rush to the prison. In photos shared over social media, he peered into jail cells and climbed metal ladders in the belly of the 19th-century penitentiary.
"Television anchors invited Mr. Cuomo to narrate photographs and video of his visit to the prison and pressed him to sketch out the latest theories as to how the escape unfolded."
The end of this video shows Governor Cuomo touring the facility.
At a news conference, after officials describe the escape, Governor Cuomo confirmed what was said and asked for help from New Yorkers to find the convicts.
The Governor has the news and this photo under the "Pressroom" section of his website.
Discussion Starters:
- How well did the three men do in the news conference? As a member of public, did you get the information you need?
- Assess Governor Cuomo's part. What value did he add to the conference?
- How well did the men answer the questions (which are difficult to hear)? Pay particular attention to word choice and tone. When the Governor added on a response, was it valuable information?
FIFA Responds to Accusations
FIFA officials, who run the international soccer association, have been accused of corruption.
In a presentation to FIFA Congress, president Sepp Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term of office, referred to "unprecedented and difficult times." Although he admitted, "The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football," he tried to separate himself, football, and FIFA, from the "actions of a few": "We cannot let the reputation of football, and of FIFA, be dragged through the mud."
Seven FIFA senior managers were arrested. The US Justice Department has accused 18 people total of accepting more than $150 million in bribes, which were handled as cash through three British international banks.
Blatter said he could "not monitor everyone all the time." But not everyone is convinced Blatter didn't know about the corruption. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has called for his resignation, "the sooner, the better."
FIFA's governance page provides additional statements about the situation.
Discussion Starters:
- Review information on FIFA's governance page. How well do you think the organization is handling the news?
- Do you buy Blatter's argument that he's not involved in the scandal? What convinces you either way?
- Should Blatter resign?
Hardee's and Carl's Jr. Promote Sex, Not Healthy Food
As other fast-food restaurants promote healthier menu options, CKE Restaurants is sticking with good-tasting food and selling it with sex. A Wall Street Journal article describes the company's new ads:
"New ads promoting 'The Most American Thickburger' feature Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Samantha Hoopes donning an American flag bikini as she frolics in a hot tub on the back of a pickup truck."
One burger weighs in at 1,000 calories, and the company isn't apologizing for it. In an interview, CKE's Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Brad Haley defends the strategy:
"We advertise in a way that appeals our target–young, hungry guys. Sometime they like attractive models. Sometimes our ads are funny or they have an edge to them.
"We are not afraid to take a chance to build our relationship with our target audience, 18-to-34-year-old males. If it's something they love but maybe their moms and dads don't approve of, in a lot of ways that can help us form a stronger bond with our target."
Haley responds to other pointed questions about "crossing a line," "scantily-clad models," ad spending, and the high-calorie food.
Discussion Starters:
- What's your view of CKE's strategy? Is the company missing a trend and a moving market, or is it appropriately targeting its customers?
- How well did the CMO respond to the reporter's questions? Which responses, if any, could be improved?
World Cup Sponsors Respond to Qatar Controversy
PR Daily has gathered statements from corporate sponsors Visa, Coca-Cola, and Adidas about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Reports of worker abuse and deaths and the detention of BBC journalists have sparked controversy about Qatar as FIFA's choice for the event. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has urged sponsor to speak out.
Visa was the first company to get FIFA's attention:
"We continue to be troubled by the reports coming out of Qatar related to the World Cup and migrant worker conditions. We have expressed our grave concern to FIFA and urge them to take all necessary actions to work with the appropriate authorities and organisations to remedy this situation and ensure the health and safety of all involved."
In response, FIFA issued this statement:
"FIFA has repeatedly urged publicly and with the highest authorities in Qatar that fair working conditions for all workers in Qatar are imperative.
"Migrant workers have been working for many global companies in Qatar for decades, yet only now is real change happening in their working conditions.
"While there are huge construction programs under way in Qatar that have no connection to the FIFA World Cup, it is clear that the FIFA World Cup is serving as a catalyst for significant change.
"FIFA, alongside trade unions and human rights organisations, will continue to urge the Qatari authorities to accomplish reforms and abolish the Kafala system. Ultimately, however, sustainable change in the whole country can only be reached in a collective effort with all stakeholders involved, including international companies and governments."
The Qatari government issued a statement about detaining BBC reporters:
"The Government Communications Office invited a dozen reporters to see-first-hand-some sub-standard labour accommodation as well as some of the newer labour villages. We gave the reporters free rein to interview whomever they chose and to roam unaccompanied in the labour villages.
"Perhaps anticipating that the government would not provide this sort of access, the BBC crew decided to do their own site visits and interviews in the days leading up to the planned tour. In doing so, they trespassed on private property, which is against the law in Qatar just as it is in most countries. Security forces were called and the BBC crew was detained."
The BBC expressed its dissatisfaction with the response:
"We are pleased that the BBC team has been released but we deplore the fact that they were detained in the first place. Their presence in Qatar was no secret and they were engaged in a perfectly proper piece of journalism.
"The Qatari authorities have made a series of conflicting allegations to justify the detention, all of which the team rejects. We are pressing the Qatari authorities for a full explanation and for the return of the confiscated equipment."
Discussion Starters:
- Read additional statements from Adidas and Coca-Cola. What else, if anything, should these companies say?
- Should the sponsors pull their support of the Word Cup 2022?
- What should FIFA do at this point?
Restaurant Owner Slams Guest Who Wrote a Bad Review
It's not the first time, and it won't be the last. The owner of LA restaurant Sunset Terrace Restaurant & Bar didn't like a review and told all of us about it.
The original post was from June 2014, but Tyrone only recently replied.
The owner's response (read at your own risk!) referred to the guest as "ignorant, disgusting, miserable" and said "The world will be a little bit better of place once you no longer a part of it. [sic]."
After the predictable backlash, the owner posted a long response on his Facebook page. The first three paragraphs are below:
After all the interest in my admittedly vulgar Facebook post (which I intended to send to Brooke privately)
I think I should give an explanation as to how I came to choose such Spicy language towards her.
Below is the account of what actually happened according to the three (3) witnesses I spoke with immediately after the incident. (A customer who frequents Sunset Terrace several times a week, an off duty employee having lunch and my employee working at the time Crystal)
Discussion Starters:
- When you read Tyrone's entire Facebook post, you learn that the guest had insulted one of his employees. Does this justify initial response?
- How would you advise owners to handle negative reviews, keeping in mind that the guest may always be right-but not always fair or pleasant?
Is Andrew Cuomo Right?
In an op-ed piece in The New York Times, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo writes, "Fast-Food Workers Deserve a Raise." The article begins with context about his own actions in NY:
ALBANY - INCOME inequality is a national problem that leaders at all levels of government are grappling with. While American capitalism never guaranteed success, it did once guarantee opportunity. But today, too many Americans don't believe their children will have a better life than their own. The ideal of mobility has been replaced by the reality of stagnation.
Some argue that we can close the income gap by pulling down the top. I believe we should do it by lifting up the bottom. We can begin by raising labor standards, starting with the minimum wage.
In 2013, I raised New York State's minimum wage; it is now $8.75, up from $7.25 (and will rise to $9 at the end of the year). In my latest budget, I proposed raising it again, to $11.50 in New York City and $10.50 elsewhere in the state. But the Legislature rejected that proposal. So I am continuing the fight. While lawmakers delay, I am taking action.
As evidence, Governor Cuomo quotes President Franklin D. Roosevelt and provides data about income inequality, worker demographics, public assistance spending, wages and prices in Europe, and projected outcomes of raising wages.
Discussion Starters:
- What examples do you find of logos, pathos, and ethos in Governor Cuomo's article?
- Which arguments are strongest and weakest? What, if any, flaws do you find in his data or logic?
Barbie Won't Associate with SeaWorld
Barbie, whose bones are attached with only moral fiber, has finally ended her agreement with SeaWorld. She will no longer be a SeaWorld trainer.
Mattel doesn't say why, but we can speculate that negative press about the theme park's treatment of orca whales, exposed by the movie Blackfish, is part of the reason.
Alex Clark, a Mattel spokesperson told NBC, "We're not making the doll anymore. Consumers may find it on retail shelves but we are not shipping and not producing the doll." About the decision, Clark said only, "A number of factors go into a decision like that. Their licensing deal expired and we've elected not to renew it."
Discussion Starters:
- Is discontinuing SeaWorld Trainer Barbie the right decision for Mattel even if the doll has been profitable?
- Should Mattel say more about the reason? What factors would management consider in communicating the decision?
Bud Light Regrets "Up for Whatever" Campaign
Bud Light bottle
Bud Light wants to attract the female demographic, but its latest campaign isn't winning any friends. In a campaign, "Up for Whatever," the beer company seems to be promoting bad behavior. A new bottle label reads, "The perfect beer for removing ‘no' from your vocabulary for the night."
This isn't the first time the campaign was criticized. A New York Times article gives some history:
And in March, Bud Light was forced to take down a post on Twitter that appeared to promote some type of sexual harassment: ‘On #StPatricksDay, you can pinch people who don't wear green. You can also pinch people who aren't #UpForWhatever.”
This time, Bud Light seems to regret the label choice. In a statement posted on its website, the company promises to stop production:
Bud Light removal
Discussion Starters:
What's your view of the campaign? Bud Light calls is "lighthearted." Do you agree?
Should the company have learned after the St. Patrick's Day tweet? Why do you think the bottle labeling continued after that criticism?
Is stopping bottle production the right decision? Should the company also pull existing bottles from shelves?
Dr. Oz Responds to Criticism
In a video on his website, Dr. Oz responds to criticism that he promotes products for the advertising income. Ten doctors have called for Oz's removal from the faculty of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, where Oz is the vice chairman of the surgery department.
In a letter to the dean of medicine, the doctors questioned Oz's credibility.
Lee Goldman, M.D.
Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine
Columbia University
Dear Dr. Goldman:
I am writing to you on behalf of myself and the undersigned colleagues below, all of whom are distinguished physicians.
We are surprised and dismayed that Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons would permit Dr. Mehmet Oz to occupy a faculty appointment, let alone a senior administrative position in the Department of Surgery.
As described here and here, as well as in other publications, Dr. Oz has repeatedly shown disdain for science and for evidence-based medicine, as well as baseless and relentless opposition to the genetic engineering of food crops. Worst of all, he has manifested an egregious lack of integrity by promoting quack treatments and cures in the interest of personal financial gain.
Thus, Dr. Oz is guilty of either outrageous conflicts of interest or flawed judgments [sic] about what constitutes appropriate medical treatments, or both. Whatever the nature of his pathology, members of the public are being misled and endangered, which makes Dr. Oz's presence on the faculty of a prestigious medical institution unacceptable.
In his rebuttal, Oz questions the doctors' ethics and stands by his approach:
"Figuring out how to talk about your health and how to talk to you about it can be difficult, and there's been a backlash to my approach in some parts of the medical community," Oz said. "The 10 doctors who attacked me got what they wanted: sensational headlines and soundbites. I've long believed that doctors should never fight their battles, or each other, in public. But now I believe that I must."
It doesn't help Dr. Oz's case that his 2:20 video starts with a 30-second commercial for Nasacort.
Oz also wrote an opinion piece for Time, defending alternative medicine:
"My exploration of alternative medicine has never been intended to take the place of conventional medicine, but rather as additive. Critics often imply that any exploration of alternative methods means abandoning conventional approaches. It does not. In fact, many institutions like mine use the names 'complementary' or 'integrative' medicine, which is also appropriate."
Discussion Starters:
- Assess the letter and Dr. Oz's video response. Which are the strongest and weakest arguments of each?
- If you were the dean, what would you do?