I appreciate the concerns raised below. I too am concerned but working hard to help free the publication from the need for advertising from the pharmaceutical or other industries. The approach that I have recommended to the publisher, which he is actively pursuing, is to seek sponsorship for issues from acceptable sources such as governments and foundations while at the same time trying to  increase the subscription base. We are making some progress, but it will take time and commitment from all of us who are concerned about health promotion. I also have been trying to solicit articles from practitioners from across the country so that the publication can reflect the views of people in the field who have always been the audience to which the publication has been directed. Any constructive help would be appreciated. I would hate to see this potentially valuable for communication among health promotors disappear because of lack of interest. Are YOU willing to help?

Irving Rootman

At 11:30 AM 9/16/98 -0400, you wrote:
>"Health Promotion in Canada" (1993-95) was a publication of Health Canada
>that succeeded two earlier titles "Health Promotion" (1985-93) and "Health
>Education" (1962-85). In 1997, a publication with the same title and
>continuing the same volume sequencing started publishing as a "public
>private partnership" apparently with a mandate to become self-sustaining
>through advertising and subscription revenues.
>
>I'm wondering if anyone on this list is familiar with the magazine, either
>in its current or former incarnation. I was looking for a cited article in a
>recent issue (which I didn't find) and had a browse through the Spring 1997
>isssue of the magazine. What I saw certainly gives a unique spin on the
>phrase "health promotion". The magazine contained:
>
>- three prominent advertisements, two from drug manufacturers and the third
>from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association extolling "harmony in
>partnerships";
>
>- an editorial from Judy Erola, president of PMAC, extolling the virtues of
>the proprietary drug industry;
>
>- an article extolling public private partnerships as "government's new math"
>
>To my layperson's eye, the magazine would appear to be little more than a
>drug industry propaganda vehicle, presumably receiving Health Canada funding
>while it "finds it's feet in the marketplace". Could this be what is meant
>by the phrase "health promotion"? What has been the response of health
>promotion advocates to that magazine and its slant on the concept of health
>promotion?
>
>
>Regards,
>
>Tom Walker
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