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Q: Jeffrey Wigan, previously tobacco researcher, subject of movie "The Insider" ( Answered 5 out of 5 stars,   1 Comment )
Question  
Subject: Jeffrey Wigan, previously tobacco researcher, subject of movie "The Insider"
Category: Reference, Education and News > General Reference
Asked by: drmike-ga
List Price: $10.00
Posted: 29 Dec 2002 12:29 PST
Expires: 28 Jan 2003 12:29 PST
Question ID: 134671
What has become of Mr Wigan after his involvement with CBS?  Is he OK?
 Is there any web-site with info (Google has none)  Thank you.
Answer  
Subject: Re: Jeffrey Wigan, previously tobacco researcher, subject of movie "The Insider"
Answered By: luciaphile-ga on 29 Dec 2002 14:18 PST
Rated:5 out of 5 stars
 
Hi drmike-ga,

Thanks for your question.

The correct spelling of the individual on whom “The Insider” was based
is Jeffrey Wigand, which is why you had such a hard time finding
anything on him.

I’m pleased to say that he has a web site that has a plethora of
information about him and his activities. After he left Brown &
Williamson, Wigand took a job teaching high school in Louisville until
1996. He taught Japanese, biology, chemistry and physics. Since his
involvement with CBS exposing the practices of the tobacco industry,
Wigand set up a non-profit organization called “Smoke Free Kids,” of
which he is president and founder, and partly due to the success of
“The Insider” is now very active on the lecture circuit.

Although he lost a great deal by going public (his wife divorced him
and his children were estranged from him; there were also lawsuits and
death threats with which he had to deal), he has regained a great
deal. “The lawsuit was dismissed as a condition of the June 20, 1997
historic settlement between the Attorneys General of 40 States and the
tobacco industry.” He no longer needs round-the-clock security and has
reconciled with his children. With the help of the CDC, he created an
educational video more suitable for younger audiences, for who “the
Insider” might not be appropriate, called “Secrets Through the Smoke.”

biography
http://www.jeffreywigand.com/insider/bio.html

Jeffrey Wigand: The Whistle-Blower
http://www.fastcompany.com/feature/02/wigand.html

The main website for Wigand is at:
JeffreyWigand.com
http://www.jeffreywigand.com

In an interview with the Alumni magazine of his alma mater, University
at Buffalo also mentions that he also earned a graduate degree (a MAT
in secondary education from the University of Louisville), during the
period after he left Brown & Williamson.

“inside The Insider,” by Leon M. Rubin. UBtoday
http://www.buffalo.edu/UBT/UBT-archives/13_ubtw00/alumni_profiles/profile2.html

The transcript of his 1996 interview with “60 Minutes” is available:

Jeffrey Wigand on 60 Minutes, February 4, 1996
http://www.smokefreekids.org/insider/60minutes.html

This transcript of a Frontline episode may be of interest to you.

Frontline
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/smoke/smokescript.html

Search strategy:
After failing to turn anything up with a Google search of “jeffrey
wigan,” I went to the IMDB and did a search on “insider” and got the
correct spelling from their site (http://www.imdb.com).
Google search:
“jeffrey wigand”

I hope this answers your question. If you require additional
information or if the links do not work, please ask me for
clarification before rating my answer and I will do my best to assist
you.

Regards,
luciaphile-ga
drmike-ga rated this answer:5 out of 5 stars
Wonderful!  Fast, helpfully corrective, complete and easy to read. 
Thanks very much
Drmike

Comments  
Subject: Re: Jeffrey Wigan, previously tobacco researcher, subject of movie "The Insider"
From: journalist-ga on 30 Dec 2002 10:00 PST
 
Greetings!  After viewing "The Insider" I searched to see if Mr.
Wigand had a website and, when I located it, I sent him an email
stating that I hoped he was well and that I appreciated his coming
forward at such personal expense.  He replied almost immediately with
a lovely message - IMHO, he really is a class act.

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