Scientists should be doing a better job of guarding their own reputations and of the general scientific community.

...The ACS raised over $180 million last year through its network of 58 Divisions and 3,000 local Chapters. The Society's major public campaign is aimed at reducing smoking and cancers related to it. Yet...the ACS has but a single (lobbyist) in Washington DC. The industry-supported Tobacco Institute, on the other hand, has a ten million dollar budget which supports dozens of Washington staff.

22 of 52 top (FDA) officials have worked for regulated industries, or organizations that cater to those industries...During a hearing held in 1969 by the House Inter-governmental Relations Subcommittee, it was disclosed that of 49 high ranking FDA officials who had recently resigned or retired, 37 joined or served as consultants to regulated industries.

Scientists should be doing a better job of guarding their own reputations and of the general scientific community.

I think, in terms of the media, journalists need to do a much better job of asking people they interview about conflicts of interest and then reporting them.

Industries do everything they can to enhance the reputations of the industry and their products.