Evaluation of General Sources

BREAKING NEWS - A Pharmacy That Actually Promotes Healthy Practices

(CVS Quits the Dirty Habit)

ClkerFreeVectorImages. 4/2012. https://pixabay.com/en/cigarette-smoking-health-smoke-24284/

Time Business

1. URL

The URL for this source is a '.com' website, the most common domain. Traditionally, the domain name for these websites indicate that the information found on the website is for a commercial use, but that is not a clear indicator that the information is always biased.

2. Author

The author of this article is Laura Stampler. Stampler graduated from Stanford University, and has written for Time (obviously), Business Insider, The Huffington Post, The New Republic, Nation, and Miami Herald. I have included this information because I think it is important that she has a lot of experience in credible writing.

3. Last Updated

The article was not updated after its publication date on the 4th of November of 2014, roughly three months after the event had taken place.

4. Purpose

The purpose of this article, specifically, was in regards to informing the audience about the sales change at CVS post the discontinuance of selling cigarettes.

5. Graphics

The only graphical display in this article shows the front of a CVS pharmacy. There are people inside and one person is seen to be exiting.

6. Position on Subject

The author appears to be neutral on the subject since the only information to be relayed is how the short term profits changed for CVS. Stampler did not use any descriptive (persuasion based) words in describing CVS or its business decision.

7. Links

There was a website that was linked in this article that cited the Wall Street Journal as another credible source.

Mozart, Mike. 8/2015. https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeepersmedia/22157545950

Health Affairs Blog

1. URL

The URL of this source is a '.org' domain. These domains used to be considered some of the most trustworthy because the '.org' indicated they were a non-profit organization. Today, that limit has been taken off and the domain is available to more than just non-profit organizations, although most websites that end with this address are based on non-commercial use.

2. Author

The author of this blog post is Andrew J. Sussman. Sussman is a Harvard College and Harvard Medical School graduate who became the president of CVS's MinuteClinic in 2009 and is the Associate Chief Medical Officer of CVS CareMark. I would say his qualifications make him a credible source for the information he provides on the story.

3. Last Updated

The story was posted on February 26, 2015, which was half a year after the event happened. Although the story has not been updated since its posting, I would still argue the information is up-to-date because of the lengthy turnaround on the actual production of the story.

4. Purpose

The purpose of this post is definitely to inform the reader of the news of the company's decision to stop selling cigarettes. I would also believe that, although the tone does not appear to do so, the reason the post was published was to persuade the reader to have a good impression of CVS. I believe this because the author is a part of the company and undoubtedly wants to make his company seem as attractive as possible.

5. Graphics

The only graphic in this post shows signs around the store that encourage customers who currently smoke to quit. It shows motivational posters, a how-to-quit hotline, and other advice in poster form plastered all around the pharmacy.

6. Position on Subject

As I touched on before, it is likely that the author is biased in favor of the company. The post itself predominantly contains facts, but, again, I believe the author's bias is conveyed through the fact that he even published the story at all. 

7. Links

Sussman's post cites almost ten other sources for further education about the event and its surroundings from various credible sources like Center for Disease Control and Prevention, JAMA Internal Medicine, and The Surgeon General.