Would you work for a Tobacco Company?
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This question is a cliché for anybody introduced to Public Relations and ethics. On a couple of occasions I have been asked but I have never had a defiant response. Let me explain why…
A couple of weeks ago for my birthday a friend of mine bought me the film, ‘Thank You for Smoking’. Originally a novel by Christopher Buckley which follows a lobbyist, called Nick Naylor, who works for the Academy of Tobacco Studies. If you haven’t watched the film then I definitely recommend it. As for me, I’m going to try and find the time to read the book.
Potentially this could be a very simple question to answer. It is the cognitive processes through which offers the difficulty. We have to understand that there will always be a demand for tobacco, people need to make their own choices but that smoking seriously damages your health. Perhaps the only people who can justify working for tobacco companies are smokers. Yet, I smoke (admittedly not nearly as much) but still find my conscience battling against my habit.
Do tobacco companies offer a positive service for society or are they fuelling a product which the majority would chose to abandon?
Currently I am undecided and this question is for you. Would you work for a tobacco company?
About Michael White
Michael White works for Microsoft dealing in the Consumer & Online department. This includes services such as Windows, Windows Mobile, MSN, Windows Live (including Hotmail and Messenger) and Bing. Michael has valuable skills in social media which has led him to be involved in social media debates on BBC Radio Five Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Gloucestershire. Michael has had numerous media appearances and has done a few talks; including the #AddMe Social Media Conference at the University of Gloucestershire.
He is a past columnist for Your Local Guardian online and University’s newspaper Space. He has been interviewed in The Guardian and is always available to give talks on some of the subjects he loves. As well as a keen opinion leader on online matters he is a published poet, aspiring author, radio presenter (Tone Radio, Jazz FM and Wychwood FM), CIPR Student Rep Runner-Up 2009-2010. Michael continues his Public Relations studies at the University of Gloucestershire until 2012 when he will start taking life seriously and consider further career plans.
None of the views in this blog represent Microsoft or any other involvements Michael has found himself attached to.
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I don’t smoke and can’t stand to feel to smoke of a cigar, but as you said, tobacco companies offer something that some people want (or need as they think) and it is perfectly normal to offer something if people want it, no? Regarding the question I answered maybe because it all depends on what would I have to do and how much would I be paid.