title: Widening the debate about conflict of interest: addressing relationships between journalists and the pharmaceutical industry.
abstract: The phone-hacking scandal that led to the closure of the News of the World newspaper in Britain has prompted international debate about media practices and regulation. It is timely to broaden the discussion about journalistic ethics and conduct to include consideration of the impact of media practices upon the population's health. Many commercial organisations cultivate relationships with journalists and news organisations with the aim of influencing the content of health-related news and information communicated through the media. Given the significant influence of the media on the health of individuals and populations, we should be alert to the potential impact of industry-journalist relationships on health care, health policy and public health. The approach taken by the medical profession to its interactions with the pharmaceutical industry provides a useful model for management of industry influence.
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute of Health Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. w.lipworth@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lipworth
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kerridge
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sweet
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jordens
authors.forename: Catriona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonfiglioli
authors.forename: Rowena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Forsyth
mesh_terms: D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000941:ethics; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000941:ethics*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000941:ethics*; D018156:Journalism, Medical; D008402:Mass Media / Q000941:ethics; D009517:New South Wales; D011634:Public Health / Q000941:ethics