Media coverage can provide a powerful way for advocates to shape public conversations and public policy. But gaining coverage requires understanding what makes an issue newsworthy. Use this worksheet to brainstorm ways to make your issue relevant to the media.
How are food and beverage companies shaping public conversation on obesity and other nutrition-related diseases? How can advocates help denormalize industry tactics? In this paper for the American Journal of Public Health, we, along with our colleagues from the Public Health Advocacy Institute, analyzed news statements to learn what messages the food and beverage industry is using in response to obesity concerns, how messaging tactics have shifted over time, and implications for public health.
Understanding how sexual violence appears in the media is important for advocates working to prevent it because news coverage offers insights into how the public and policymakers view the issue and what to do about it. In this Issue, BMSG explores how journalists characterize sexual violence, whether prevention is discussed, and what steps advocates and reporters can take to improve coverage.
This case study, part of a series developed by the Berkeley Media Studies Group and supported by The California Endowment (TCE), highlights the innovative work Shasta County Public Health is doing to advance health equity. Shasta was one of four health departments in California honored by TCE for its equity-oriented efforts in December 2014. To learn more, view the case study, full report, or companion videos.
This case study, part of a series developed by the Berkeley Media Studies Group and supported by The California Endowment (TCE), highlights the innovative work that the Sonoma County Department of Health Services is doing to advance health equity. Sonoma was one of four health departments in California honored by TCE for its equity-oriented efforts in December 2014. To learn more, view the case study, full report, or companion videos.
This case study, part of a series developed by the Berkeley Media Studies Group and supported by The California Endowment (TCE), highlights the innovative work happening in Los Angeles County to advance health equity. The L.A. County Department of Public Health was one of four health departments in California honored by TCE for its equity-oriented efforts in December 2014. To learn more, view the case study, full report, or companion videos.
This case study, part of a series developed by the Berkeley Media Studies Group and supported by The California Endowment (TCE), highlights the innovative work that the Alameda County Public Health Department is doing to advance health equity. Alameda was one of four health departments in California honored by TCE for its equity-oriented efforts in December 2014. To learn more, view the case study, full report, or companion videos.
In spite of funding challenges, local health departments across the state and nation are increasingly focused on understanding health inequities and how to prevent them. We developed these case studies to explore the innovative efforts, challenges and successes of four California-based health departments working to ensure a healthy future for all.
Letters to the editor can signal community interest about a particular public health issue and send a message to policymakers. Here are some tips to help advocates craft compelling letters and increase their chances of getting published.
Like other public health problems, community violence is preventable — but it’s not often understood that way. As a first step toward changing the discourse around it, we analyzed California news reporting on community violence to understand how the issue is portrayed, who speaks in news coverage, and how solutions are discussed. View the analysis, or read related BMSG research on news about community safety.
