The Vox Box

Thu., Dec. 6, 2007

Six states sue R. J. Reynolds over cartoon use in marketing

Six states sued the maker of Camel cigarettes yesterday, contending that a promotion in Rolling Stone magazine violated a 1998 agreement not to use cartoons in its marketing efforts.
The suits focus on ads for the Camel brand, produced by the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, which appeared in a nine-page foldout section in the Nov. 15 issue of the magazine.
The section, titled Indie Rock Universe, was intended to look like doodling in a student’s spiral-bound notebook, with drawings of planets made to resemble animals and characters. It featured Camel’s name and logo.

The law stems from the use of the infamous "Joe Camel" some of you may remember. Critics said the cartoon appealed to children.

QUESTION: What do you think of the law? And is R.J. Reynolds in violation of it with this advertisement?

Posted Dec. 6, 2007, 1:58 p.m.

In 2006, then-editor Steve Smith of The Spokesman-Review had the idea of starting a publication for an often forgotten audience: teenagers. The Vox Box was a continuation of the Vox, an all-student staffed newspaper published by The Spokesman-Review. High school student journalists who staffed the Vox made all content decisions as they learn about the trade of journalism. This blog's mission was to give students an opportunity to publish their voices. The Vox Box and the Vox wrapped up in June 2009, but you can follow former staffers' new blog at http://voxxiez.blogspot.com.