From: Wright, Tony (BSMG)
To: submissions@freezerbox.com
Subject: Biotech articles for Freezerbox.com
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001

Dear Editor,

To provide your online visitors with information on biotechnology, we would like to offer you one or more bylined articles written by experts in the field, to publish on Freezerbox.com. These articles are available free of charge and provide educational information about biotechnology that we believe will interest your readers.

"Agricultural Biotechnology: It's Here to Stay," By Leonard Gianessi, senior research associate at the National Center for Food and Agriculture Policy. Gianessi addresses examples of how biotech helps farmers with pest management, Citing examples in corn, soybeans, and cotton. (1,015 words).

"Biotechnology-A Tool to Help End World Hunger," by Dr. Stanley Wallach, Executive Director of the American College of Nutrition. Wallach discusses breakthroughs in biotechnology that can provide starving and/or malnourished populations with foods rich in vitamins and nutrients. (665 words)

"Modern Biotechnology and Small Farmers in Developing Countries," by Per Pinstrup Andersen, Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute. The author highlights the benefits that biotechnology can bring to a small farmer in a country such as Africa (sic). It also addresses the implications of the European debate about biotechnology and its effect on developing countries. (1,126 words)

I hope that you find these of interest, so we can provide you with the full text for review. I will follow up to learn of your interest. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please call me at 972-***-**** or email me.

Tony Wright
CyberPR Senior Account Executive
BSMG Worldwide

From: Mike Manville
To: Wright, Tony (BSMG)
Subject: Re: Biotech articles for Freezerbox.com
Date: Thursday, 15 February 2001

Dear Mr. Wright:

Freezerbox is always interested in publishing articles of divergent views, so we would be happy to examine anything you wish to submit. Biotechnology is certainly a topic worthy of discussion, not so much for its potential, which is inarguable, but for the question of whether its use will live up to the lofty rhetoric that has surrounded its introduction. So please do forward on the texts.

I have to assume, as you are an employee of BSMG, that you are contacting us on behalf of a client. A former PR man myself, I was a little confused as to why you didn't identify the company in whose interest you are working. Naturally, we would appreciate knowing who your client is before we publish anything you give us.

But again, we are eager to see the articles. Thanks for your interest and for thinking of us.

Best Regards,
Michael Manville
Freezerbox Editorial Board

From: Tony Wright (BSMG)
To: Mike Manville
Subject: RE: Biotech articles for Freezerbox.com
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001

Mr. Manville

I am excited that you are interested in the op-ed pieces about the benefits of biotechnology. As far as my client, we represent the three authors of these op-eds who are trying to make a name for themselves on this up-and-coming topic. We assist them with media placements. I have attached the three op-ed pieces in a Word format. If you would like them in another format, please let me know. And of course, if you have any questions, please contact me. Also, if you do decide to use the articles, could you send me a link to them? The authors will be very interested. Thanks.

Tony Wright

From: Mike Manville
To: Tony Wright (BSMG)
Subject: Biotech Articles: Follow-up questions
Date: Friday, 16 February 2001

Dear Mr. Wright:

Thanks for letting us review the articles. Our interest in biotech at this point, as I mentioned earlier, lies more in the debate over its implementation (labeling, monopolistic practice, etc.) than its scientific potential alone. The articles you have submitted, though interesting, unfortunately do not address some of these issues head-on.

Also, and you must forgive me for if I sound skeptical, but I find it unusual that three academics who work for non-profit organizations would (or could) hire one of the world's largest PR firms to disseminate their writings for free. I find it doubly unusual that the PR firm they choose also happens to list as its clients transnational corporations like Philip Morris, Monsanto, and Dupont, all of whom are heavily invested in biotech. Finally, I find it triply unusual that this PR firm also happens to have signed a three-year, $50 million contract with those companies to design a program whose goal is to allay concerns over genetically engineered food in the United States.

Would you care to comment on this? I would be interested in the explanation. Anyone is welcome to submit an article to our magazine; we only ask that They do so openly, honestly, and in the spirit of full disclosure.

Best Regards,
Mike Manville
Freezerbox Editorial Board

From: Wright, Tony (BSMG)
To: Mike Manville
Subject: RE: Biotech Articles: Follow-up questions
Date: Monday, 26 February 2001

Mr. Manville

Sorry for the unintended confusion about who we represent. You are correct that we do, of course, work for the Council for Biotechnology Information, an organization whose goal is to promote the benefits of biotechnology. In our work with the CBI we assist like-minded supporters of the of the technology with their own media placement opportunities.

If you would like to discuss other ways that we can work with you, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your interest.

Tony Wright
BSMG Worldwide

Welcome to the Spin Machine, by Michael Manville

** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed for research and educational purposes only. **