Age Concern tops chart after 'lifestyle' study row

Alex Black, PR Week UK, Wednesday, 08 November 2006, 7:00pm,

Age Concern's report into 'responsible ageing' generated 100 more mentions for the charity than last month, pushing it to the top of October's NGO Watch

The charity teamed up with drug multinational Pfizer for the study, which touched a nerve with its finding that 40 per cent of respondents believed people should have to pay for ‘lifestyle-related' treatments.

The British Medical Association's response, decrying such a stance as ‘unethical', further boosted coverage.

The Royal British Legion catapulted itself into the top ten with the launch of its annual Poppy appeal, fronted this year by Welsh opera pin-up Katherine Jenkins (PRWeek, 3 Nov).

RSPCA dropped to sixth despite its controversial support of Ipswich Hospital, which suggested that using its radiotherapy department to treat animals would create extra revenue.

Oxfam came eighth. The Daily Telegraph picked up on the development charity's criticism of Starbucks' alleged efforts to stop Ethiopian coffee farmers from registering a trademark for their produce.

NGO WATCH October 2006 ranking

01. Age Concern (NGO) - 410 (No. of mentions)

02. Friends of the Earth International - 326

02. Cancer Research UK - 322

04. Royal British Legion - 262

05. Red Cross - 259

06. RSPCA - 249

07. Macmillan Cancer Relief - 246

08. Amnesty International - 245

09. Oxfam - 239

10. RSPB - 233

Source: Infonic