Front groups

Front groups are organisations that claim to represent one agenda, but in reality they represent the interests of another concealed agenda. This clandestine attempt to conceal their true agenda, o is what separates front froups from other lobbying organisations. The creation of front groups is a key example of Third Party Technique in the Public Relations industry.SourceWatch, Front Groups, SourceWatch website, accessed 20 March 2015
Front groups tend to focus their efforts on public relations and lobbying initiatives, operating under the premise that a narrative is more palatable when it comes from an apparently independent source. Front groups seek to dupe policymakers, journalists, and citizens into believing that the reports they commission and the narratives they spin are anything other than simple corporate Propaganda. These front groups are often very politically active; holding news conferences, publishing newsletters, commissioning reports, writing editorials, and featuring on talk shows in an effort to divert public opinion toward industry views.Mark Megalli and Andy Friedman (March 1992), Fronting For Business, Multinational Monitor website, accessed 20 March 2015
Critics of the use of front groups as a public relations strategy argue that their heavy reliance on dishonesty and concealment often crosses the line into deception and manipulation; allowing organisations to advance their interests under the guise of legitimate public opinion.Ethics in PR, Front Groups, Ethics in PR website, accessed 21 March 2015
==Characteristics of front groups==
A front group may exhibit some of the following characteristics:
* Avoids mentioning or selectively publishes its main sources of funding
* Was set up by another organisation (particularly PR, consultancy, grassroots campaigning, polling firms)
* Engages in actions that consistently and conspicuously benefit regular third parties
* Re-focuses controversial debates onto new and often unrelated topics
* Has a misleading name that disguises the organisation's real agenda
* Has the the same address or phone number that has been or is currently listed to other corporations
* Consists of outspoken industry 'experts' 
* Is constantly trying to reinforce that it is 'independent', 'credible', 'trustworthy', 'esteemed', etc.
* Has very low, or free membership fees to bolster membership numbers and claim legitimacy
==Examples of United Kingdom Front Groups==
*British Nutrition Foundation
*The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust
*Sense About Science
*Scientific Alliance
==Examples of United States Front Groups==
*Accuracy in Media
*ActivistCash.com
*Adam Smith Institute
*The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition
*Africa Fighting Malaria
*African American Republican Leadership Council
*AIDS Responsibility Project
*Air Hygiene Foundation
*Air Quality Standards Coalition
*Alexis de Tocqueville Institution
*Alliance for Better Foods
*Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care
*Alliance for Responsible CFC Policy
*American Beverage Institute
*American Council on Science and Health
*American Enterprise Institute
*American Forest Foundation
*American Forest Resource Alliance
*American Industrial Health Council
*American Policy Center
*American Tort Reform Association
*Americans for Tax Reform
*Americans for Balanced Energy Choices
*A.N.S.W.E.R.
*Association for Competitive Technology
*Australian Environment Foundation
*Beverly Hills Restaurant Association
*Black America's PAC
*Borrowsmart.org
*Morton Blackwell Leadership Institute
*California Civil Rights Initiative
*Californians for Statewide Smoking Restrictions
*Campaign for Working Families
*Capital Research Center
*Cato Institute
*Center for Consumer Freedom
*Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise
*Center for Environmental Education Research
*Center for Produce Quality
*Centre for Independent Studies
*Christian Coalition
*Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
*Citizens for a Free Kuwait
*Citizens for a Sound Economy
*Citizens for Better Medicare
*Citizens for the Environment
*Citizens for Sensible Control of Acid Rain
*Citizens for Sensible Energy Choices 
*Claremont Institute
*Climate Council
*Coalition for Asbestos Resolution
*Coalition for Equal Access to Medicines
*Coalition for a Fair Judiciary
*Coalition for Fair and Affordable Lending
*Coalition for Health Insurance Choices
*Coalition for Responsible Credit Practices
*Coalition for Southern Africa
*Coalition for Vehicle Choice
*Competitive Enterprise Institute
*Committee on Taxation and Economic Growth
*Community Financial Services Association of America
*Congressional Human Rights Caucus
*Consumer Alert
*Consumers Alliance for Affordable Natural Gas
*Consumer Credit Research Foundation
*Consumer Data Industry Association
*Consumer Distorts
*Consumer Federation of America
*Consumers' Research
*Consumers for World Trade
*Contributions Watch
*Council for Affordable Health Insurance
*Council for Agricultural Science and Technology
*Council for Solid Waste Solutions
*Council of American Muslims for Understanding
*Council of National Policy
*Council for Energy Independence
*Employment Policies Institute
*Employment Roundtable
*Endangered Species Reform Coalition
*Energy Stewardship Alliance
*Environmental Issues Council
*EPA Watch
*European Science and Environment Forum
*European Security Advocacy Group
*Fairlendingnow.org
*Families Organized to Represent the Coal Economy FORCE
*Financial Services Roundtable
*Foundation for Clean Air Progress
*Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment
*FreedomWorks
*Global Climate Coalition
*Global Climate Information Project
*Global Warming Cost website
*GreenFacts Foundation
*Greening Earth Society
*Guest Choice Network
*Heidelberg Appeal
*Health Benefits Coalition
*Healthcare Leadership Council
*Healthy Buildings International, major Philip Morris contractor
*Heartland Institute
*Hepatitis C Coalition
*Heritage Foundation 
*Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace
*Hudson Institute
*Independent Women's Forum
*Information Council for the Environment
*International Freedom Foundation
*Institute for Regulatory Policy
*Institute of Economic Affairs
*International Food Information Council
*JunkScience.com
*Keep America Beautiful
*Lake & Peninsula Business Development Center
*Landmark Legal Foundation
*Leipzig Declaration on Global Climate Change
*Maine Conservation Rights Institue
*Manhattan Institute for Policy Research
*George C. Marshall Institute
*Mountain States Legal Foundation
*National Anxiety Center
*National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders
*National Center for Genome Resources
*National Center for Policy Analysis
*National Center for Public Policy Research
*National Consumer Coalition
*National Empowerment Television
*National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition
*National Endowment for Democracy
*National Environmental Policy Institute
*National Home Equity Mortgage Association
*National Journalism Center
*National Legal Center for the Public Interest
*National Wetlands Coalition
*National Wilderness Institute
*Nestle Coordination Center for Nutrition
*Nicaraguan Freedom Fund
*No More Scares Campaign
*North American Coalition on Green Building
*Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine
*Partnership to Protect Consumer Credit
*Political Economy Research Center
*Progress & Freedom Foundation
*Project Evergreen
*Project Learning Tree
*Railwatch
*Reason Foundation
*Regulatory Impact Analysis Project
*Republicans for Clean Air
*Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment
*Responsible Mortgage Lenders Coalition
*Science and Environmental Policy Institute
*Sea Lion Defense Fund
*Senior Coalition
*Shape the Debate
*Silica Coalition
*Smart Growth Madison
*60 Plus Association
*Social Issues Research Centre
*Statement by Atmospheric Scientists on Global Warming
*Statistical Assessment Service
*Susan B. Anthony List
*Teacher Choice
*Temperate Forest Foundation
*Timber Communities Australia
*Torches of Freedom Brigade
*United for Jobs
*United Seniors Association
*Voters for Campaign Truth
*Washington Forest Protection Association
*Washington Legal Foundation
*Water Environment Federation
*Wise Use Movement
*Workplace Health & Safety Council
==Resources==
*SourceWatch, Front Groups: Good overview of Corporate Front Groups, history and examples
*Wikipedia, Front Organization: Overview of Front Groups from a variety of different sectors
*Mark Megalli and Andy Friedman (March 1992), Fronting for Business: Article discussing Corporate Front Groups in 20th Century America
*Suzanne Goldenberg (2015), Lobbyist dubbed Dr Evil behind front groups attacking Obama power rules: Example of current Front Group workings in the US
==Notes==
Category:Front Groups