Tobacco.org

• Northlich to lay off 27 

Northlich, the downtown Cincinnati-based public relations, media and branding agency, said Monday it will lay off 27 people after it lost a key account, the state's Stand youth anti- tobacco campaign and OhioQuits cessation campaigns.

Ohio legislators last week moved to abolish the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation, which funded the campaign.

The layoffs are split between Northlich's Columbus and Cincinnati offices. Northlich will employ 120, or 18.3 percent fewer people after the reconfiguration. . . . "It's a tragedy that such a successful program may not continue," Northlich CEO Kathy Selker said. The agency had a $13 million contract for this year for the campaign, which included billboards, television and Web advertising, public relations and grass-roots organizing.

The Stand strategy was to debunk myths among teens that "everyone" smokes

Jump to full article »