WELCOME to the fourth edition of ttac exchange – a technical assistance tool that goes beyond information sharing.

ttac exchange is designed to offer fresh insight, take an honest and direct approach in bringing you information, strategies, and tools, and provide a gateway to resources on current tobacco control issues.

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We know a lot about tobacco industry sponsorship because it has been part of our social fabric for a long, long time. Though we are most familiar with the more “traditional sponsorship” we see at sporting events like auto racing and rodeos, the face of tobacco industry sponsorship has morphed yet again.

In an effort to broaden its markets, soften its image, and influence policy, the tobacco industry has turned its attention to sponsoring community organizations and activities. This tactic has provided the tobacco industry with a sort of “innocence by association,” allowing the industry to craft a new public persona over the past decade.

In this issue of ttac exchange we take a closer look at how the industry reaches out to communities, reveal industry tactics with the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgender, as well as African American communities, and offer a few strategies to counter the lure of the ash-covered dollar.

A fistful of dollars that could be put to good use can be tempting in lean economic times—but we must never lose sight of from whence it came. . .

Dearell Niemeyer, MPH
Director, Tobacco Technical Assistance Consortium

The tobacco industry has spent years cultivating sponsorship and influence at sporting events and in communities.

Read on about just a few of the many hot topics around tobacco industry sponsorship...

• The appeal of community events
• The buzz in bars and night clubs
• Ethical implications are double-edged
• Using policies to reduce sponsorship
• Practical advice for taking action

Take a closer look at how the tobacco industry has been reaching out to the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender (LGBT) community . . .

Find out what Dr. Lori Dorfman, Director of the Berkeley Media Studies Group, has to say about the relationship between media and sponsorship.

Visit with Valerie Yerger and Ruth Malone of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco about how they used tobacco industry documents to look at tobacco industry sponsorship and the African American Community.

Read some comments from Bill Robinson, National Chairman, National African American Tobacco Prevention Network, on the tobacco industry’s interest in African Americans.

If you're looking for resources about tobacco industry sponsorship, click on these links:

• Tools
• General resources
• Group-specific
• Straight to the source
• Finding more evidence on sponsorship

What’s your favorite resource?
Let us know at exchange@ttac.org

We want to hear from you…
Send a “letter to the editor” to exchange@ttac.org

Is your program bogged down and looking for a solution to a sponsorship challenge? Let ttac help!

ttac provides technical assistance and resources to help you “clear that bar.” Click here to learn more about ttac technical assistance and resources.

Get the facts from ttac!

For more information:
W http://www.ttac.org
E  ttac@sph.emory.edu
P  404-712-8474

Want to counter tobacco industry sponsorship in your community? Learn from others who are committed to this goal . . .

Project SMART Money has been on the forefront of countering tobacco industry sponsorship in California and would like to help others across the country build the capacity to eliminate tobacco industry sponsorship.

We are especially interested in hearing about local and state level tobacco control activities.

If you have a story to tell about topics in upcoming issues of ttac exchange or extra!, contact us at exchange@ttac.org

Next month in ttac exchange . . .
Beyond the college campus: A special look at 18—24 year olds

Look for the latest in cessation and read about innovations in youth tobacco control in upcoming issues of extra!

ttac exchange Staff:

Aliki P. Weakland, MPH, MSW
  Editor-in-Chief
Samantha Helfert, MLS
  Information Specialist
JoAnn Weiss, MPH, MA
  Writer/Researcher
Lisbeth Klau, MPH
  Writer/Researcher