An open letter to publishers Tim Keck, Ken Stocker, Craig Bednar, George Bakan, and all employees, interns, and business partners of The Stranger, Seattle Weekly, Seattle Magazine, and Seattle Gay News.

Thank you for visiting strangieadventures.com.

The purpose of this site is to confront, criticize, and condemn tobacco advertising practices in Seattle print media. With the Strangie cartoon, links to various sites about tobacco advertising, and occasional commentaries, I hope to persuade you to take action towards ending this harmful practice.

I understand that print media is a business and advertising brings in revenue. I also understand that much of what is advertised – from alcohol, to fast food, to strip clubs - can often be found objectionable to various sects of society. 

But tobacco cannot be lumped in with the others–it is far, far more destructive. Tobacco is the leading cause of death in the United States. (18.1% of U.S. deaths are attributable to tobacco; just 3.5 % of U.S deaths are attributable to alcohol. JAMA. 2004) The addictive and lethal nature of tobacco use, its impact on non-users, its staying power as a cultural phenomenon, and its popularity among young people makes it unique among advertised products. 

A passive or blasé’ attitude about the impact of tobacco advertising, I find, is also common among those who defend the practice. Most find it hard to believe it has an influence, but studies have shown there is an indisputable link between advertising and smoking rates, particularly among young people.  (check out http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab003439.html for more info). It’s not an mistake that Big Tobacco spends 150 Billion dollars ($150, 000, 000,000) per year worldwide on advertising. 

Many are ignorant about how the advertising really works – it’s not about some kid seeing an ad and then running out and buying cigarettes. It has more to do with how tobacco ingrains itself in our culture. We see the Camel brand every day in bars, clubs, convenience stores, gas stations, newspapers, and magazines. Camel sponsors musical events as well as groups like Dinosaur Jr. Camel, for one, has ingrained itself into our culture, our counter-culture, our public conscious, and our public sub-conscious.

Smoking becomes normalized this way – it becomes acceptable and tolerated. It becomes part of our daily lives. It becomes the norm. When The Stranger, Seattle Weekly, Seattle Magazine, and Seattle Gay News advertise tobacco, they are making this announcement: “We think this is O.K. We think this is tolerable.”

How is it tolerable?

Some argue that not allowing tobacco advertising is like censorship. This is a fallacy. All publishers decide what content is appropriate for their newspapers or magazines and accept or reject advertisers based on their value systems. Exxon ads are absent from The Stranger, just as Conservative Church groups are absent from Seattle Gay News. 

Some argue that that the nature of the competitive market demands tobacco revenue. This is also fallacious. The Seattle Weekly only recently started advertising tobacco, and has been competitive with The Stranger for over a decade.

Some argue we should allow consumers to “choose”. This is an ignorant perspective. Most smokers start before the age of maturity, and the power of nicotine addiction throws the concept of “free-will” out the window. This “argument” also underestimates the power of tobacco advertising.

The truth is there is no real valid debate. Tobacco advertising is a harmful and unethical practice, and responsible business owners must discontinue doing it for the sake of our community. It really is that simple.

I am calling on Tim Keck, Ken Stocker, Craig Bednar, and George Bakan to meet with each other and create a pact to stop advertising tobacco altogether.

Further, I am calling on all employees to consider where your paychecks are coming from, and to stand up to your employers.

I am challenging each and every one of you to no longer accept the status quo.

Take a stand and do what is right.

Thank you for your attention.

Comments are welcome at strangieadventures@gmail.com

And don’t forget to check out a new Strangie cartoon every Monday!