Because these bars are particularly popular with youth and may offer new tobacco marketing opportunities, scholars have called for waterpipes and other products to be included under tobacco control purview (Cobb, Ward, Maziak, Shihadeh, & Eissenberg, following 2010; Maziak, 2011). POS advertising is also an FCTC implementation challenge. Although some countries, such as Ukraine and the United Kingdom, have passed legislation to ban all POS activity (Bonner, 2012; ��Tobacco displays at the point of sale,�� 2012), this form of indirect marketing is still prevalent, even in countries with strict marketing restrictions. Researchers have called for POS advertising bans, p
Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use is growing in the United States and the last several years have seen a change in the SLT marketplace with the acquisition of two major SLT companies by cigarette companies and the introduction of new SLT product styles under cigarette brand names (e.

g., Camel Snus, Camel Dissolvables, Marlboro Snus) (Mejia & Ling, 2010). Research attention has focused on SLT use (e.g., Rodu & Cole, 2009; Timberlake & Huh, 2009), health risks (e.g., Boffetta, Hecht, Gray, Gupta, & Straif, 2008; Boffetta & Straif, 2009), harm-reduction potential (e.g., Foulds, Ramstrom, Burke, & Fagerstrom, 2003; Hatsukami, Lemmonds, & Tomar, 2004; Levy et al., 2004), and risk perceptions (e.g., O��Connor, Hyland, Giovino, Fong, & Cummings, 2005; O��Connor et al., 2007; Tomar & Hatsukami, 2007). However, few studies have examined mediated communications about SLT (Phillips, Wang, & Guenzel, 2005; Waterbor et al.

, 2004) and none have examined coverage of SLT in the news. Such research is significant given that the news media has played an important role in informing the public about tobacco��s dangers since the 1950s (Pierce & Gilpin, 2001). The news media also plays a broader role than transferring information to the public��by deeming certain topics newsworthy it defines which issues are ��important�� (McCombs & Shaw, 1972; Preiss, Gayle, Burrell, Allen, & Bryant, 2007). News coverage can also influence opinions and attitudes by shaping how we think about issues given their framing (National Cancer Institute [NCI], 2008). As such, analysis of tobacco news coverage is important for understanding which issues are perceived as important, how the problem of tobacco is being defined for the public and policy makers, and the types of solutions suggested (Lima & Siegel, 1999).

Analysis of tobacco news can also reflect and help us understand existing attitudes and public sentiment toward tobacco issues (Smith et al., 2008). Letters to the editor and op-ed articles provide a public forum where members of the public and tobacco control professionals can debate and express their views about timely tobacco issues (Clegg Smith, Wakefield, Batimastat & Edsall, 2006).