Talking about teen dating violence: Bringing prevention into the conversation
BMSG worked with the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV) to better understand how teen dating violence is portrayed in the news and what the implications are for prevention policy. Since news coverage plays a critical role in influencing how the public and policy makers view social issues and their potential solutions, BMSG conducted an in-depth news analysis of how the news media frame dating violence. We then used those findings to develop a strategic communications plan that the Partnership can use to help opinion leaders in education and advocates in the field advocate for policies to prevent teen dating violence. We also conducted a training with selected members of the Partnership in January of 2016 to help them put the communications plan into practice. Following our collaboration, CPEDV co-authored with Peace Over Violence a commentary on the role schools must play in ending dating abuse. The article, which appeared in Ed Source, came out just ahead of teen dating violence awareness month and coincided with the release of their new Teen DV Month 2017 toolkit.
Related publications
Issue 22: What’s missing from the news on sexual violence? An analysis of coverage, 2011-2013