Sources

From the April 2000 issue

Journalist Daniel Forbes caused quite a stir earlier this year when he revealed in Salon (www.salon.com/news/feature/2000/01/13/drugs) that federal drug warriors leaned on TV producers to incorporate anti-drug story lines in their shows. However, the shenanigans at the Office of National Drug Control Policy don't end with attempts to make a very special episode of Beverly Hills 90210 even more special. For another example of disguised propaganda, check out www. freevibe.com, an ONDCP-sponsored site produced with the help of Disney that tries to be cool as it scares kids away from drugs. By contrast, the ONDCP's TV ads (viewable at www.mediacampaign.org/mg/index.html) are plainly labeled as messages from the government--not that anyone would mistake them for honest information in the first place.