This spring, a poll that found half of adult Americans have frequent
 sleeping problems was reported on "by virtually all of the country's
 major newspapers and television networks," as well as international
 media. "Lost in the somber warnings and survey results, however, was
 that the poll, the proclamations and the press kits that spread the
 information were paid for by sleeping pill manufacturers," reports
 the Sacramento Bee. Although the group that released the poll, the
 National Sleep Foundation (NSF), receives more than half of its
 income from drug companies, only 17 of 84 newspaper stories
 "mentioned the foundation's pharmaceutical sponsors." And while the
 New York public relations firm Zeno Group was touting the NSF poll,
 it was also hyping the launch of a new sleeping pill, Lunesta. Zeno
 Group included "a pitch for coverage of the release of the Lunesta
 sleeping pill" in the NSF press packets announcing the poll results.

SOURCE: Sacramento Bee, June 26, 2005
DO NOT ASK FOR WHOM THE POLL TROLLS
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/medical/story/13132325p-13976434c.html
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