by: Heather Gehlert
posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Sharing messages and conducting outreach on social media may be an important way to advance equity, as doing so allows advocates to bypass traditional gatekeepers and elevate voices of color in a historically white, male-dominated industry. But how effective is this approach? A new study about tweetchats, published last month in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, offers insights into how effective these social events have been in making health inequities among Latinx populations more visible and moving people to act.
Tags: health equity, media advocacy, tweetchats
by: Lori Dorfman
posted on Thursday, March 04, 2021
Headlines about misinformation and vaccine hesitancy may be overshadowing the bigger problem of structural barriers and a fractured health care system, which are major reasons why many communities of color have not received their share of vaccines. BMSG’s Lori Dorfman reflects on this and other lessons following a recent national forum on the COVID vaccine.
Tags: covid, COVID-19, misinformation, public health, vaccination, vaccine
by: Pamela Mejia
posted on Friday, January 08, 2021
Media coverage from the recent attack on our democracy reveals steps journalists can take — and, indeed, are already taking — to report the news as clearly and accurately as possible, expose the roots of white supremacy, and hold power to account.
by: Heather Gehlert
posted on Friday, December 11, 2020
With so much at stake this year, advocates and organizers have been working tirelessly to sharpen their communication skills and make the case for solutions that advance equity, justice, and health. Those skills have shone through the many op-eds, letters to the editor, and other forms of media advocacy we have been tracking throughout the year. As we compiled our annual Top 10 list, these media bites stood out to us for their clarity, creativity, and overall impact.
Tags: media bites
by: Heather Gehlert and Katherine Schaff
posted on Monday, October 26, 2020
The years of organizing that build the foundation for visible moments of social change are often hidden from view. In this blog, we go behind the scenes to learn how Bay Area organizers used the tools of media advocacy to further efforts to prevent police violence and invest in community health.
by: Heather Gehlert
posted on Thursday, October 22, 2020
At this year’s APHA, the BMSG team will share insights from our latest research on gun violence and community violence in news coverage. We will also discuss how journalists can improve their reporting on violence, and we’ll look at the role of power — and narratives about power — in furthering efforts to build safer communities.
Tags: apha, violence prevention
by: Lori Dorfman
posted on Friday, October 02, 2020
In letting Trump control the narrative, the Times and other media outlets lost the real election story: One of the longest and most vexing problems in United States elections is the large part of the electorate who does not vote. Where are the stories on that? Or the youth vote? Or efforts to combat voter intimidation and suppression? These stories are harder to tell but the health of our democracy depends on them.
Tags: democracy, media analysis, narrative
by: Katherine Schaff and Shaddai Martinez Cuestas
posted on Monday, July 06, 2020
Housing policy is complex, and communicating about it can be tricky, especially when you are talking with a reporter. Still, just because you aren’t in full control of the message doesn’t mean you can’t shape the narrative. A recent event with local journalists shed light on how advocates can do just that.
Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19, health equity, housing, strategic communication
by: Lori Dorfman
posted on Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Although the deadline for filing and paying taxes has been extended this year, April 15 is still a time to reflect on how taxes can strengthen our families, our communities, and our nation. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it has become abundantly clear that our lives are interconnected and that taxes play a critical role in supporting our public health infrastructure and quality of life. Making Tax Day a public health holiday would reinforce these important truths.
Tags: public health, taxes
by: Berkeley Media Studies Group
posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2020
BMSG is proud to support California’s local health departments and their partners as they create a state where health abounds no matter where you live.
Tags: health equity, local health departments, public health
