5002.0: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 9:42 AM

Abstract #25238

Reactions to truth: Results from the Truth Tour ethnography

Chris Ringwalt, Center Director, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 104 S. Estes Drive, Suite 206, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, (919) 967-8998 x13, ringwalt@pire.org

In this paper we present an ethnographic description of the Truth Tour. In the summer of 2000 three caravans of "edgy" youth toured major cities throughout the county to spread the word about Big Tobacco. Included on the tour were trained ethnographers who assessed the Tour's influence both on the people and programs in the communities visited and on the youth involved. Ethnographers collected information through direct observation, interviews, and collection of Tour artifacts. Discussed will be a summary of: the social organization of the tour, the types of events the tour "riders" engaged in, and the utility of the specialized vehicles on which the riders traveled and the "gear" they handed out to youth in the communities visited. Observations concerning the tour's successes and challenges encountered will be offered. See thetruth.com

Learning Objectives: The purpose of this session is to present the results of an assessment of the 2000 truth tour.

Keywords: Tobacco, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: the American Legacy Foundation
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA