publications

BMSG's issue series

Video: Making the case for government

Friday, April 26, 2013

Advocates work tirelessly for social change on a variety of issues. But their efforts may be thwarted by underlying negative attitudes toward government and a widespread misunderstanding of its role in creating a healthy, functioning society. As part of BMSG’s 20th anniversary series, Patrick Bresette, former program director for Public Works, explores how we can tackle this problem and build public support for a government dedicated to the common good.

It’s not just for teens: Viral marketing to young children

Friday, March 08, 2013

Food companies use viral digital marketing tactics, which may be considered deceptive and in violation of state consumer protection laws, to induce children to share email addresses of their friends and spread brand advertising of unhealthy foods among their peers. This legal issue brief, prepared by the Public Health Advocacy Institute in collaboration with BMSG and the Center for Digital Democracy, explains the tactics being used and suggests ways they can be addressed, particularly under state law.

Marketing sugary cereals to children in the digital age: A content analysis of 17 child-targeted websites

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Cereal companies, the third biggest food marketer to children, are using sophisticated online marketing techniques to target kids with unhealthy products and get them to engage with brands in ways not possible through television advertising. In this study, BMSG’s Andrew Cheyne, Lori Dorfman and Eliana Bukofzer, along with the UConn Rudd Center‘s Jennifer Harris, explore cereal companies’ digital marketing tactics and implications for public health.

Food and beverage marketing to children and adolescents: Limited progress by 2012, recommendations for the future — brief report

Friday, February 15, 2013

Although research suggests that healthy products can be profitable for the food industry, marketers continue to target children with ads for foods and beverages that are unhealthy, cheap and widely available. Such marketing is linked to overweight, obesity and related health problems. This brief report, prepared by Healthy Eating Research based on BMSG research, explains the scope of the problem and offers recommendations for improvement.

Food and beverage marketing to children and adolescents: Limited progress by 2012, recommendations for the future — full report

Friday, February 15, 2013

American children and adolescents remain exposed to a disproportionate amount of marketing for unhealthy foods and beverages, in spite of some progress by industry, government and schools to improve young people’s food environments. This report — a review of academic and industry literature on trends in food marketing to youth, as well as policy interventions — explains what this means for public health researchers and advocates looking to improve kids’ health.

article cover

Talking about sugar sweetened-beverage taxes: Will actions speak louder than words?

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

In spite of the role that sugar-sweetened beverages play in chronic health problems, public health advocates face formidable challenges in arguing for a tax on them. In this article, BMSG’s Lori Dorfman explains the backdrop that makes passing a soda tax so difficult and what advocates can do to increase the public’s understanding of and support for such a solution.

Blogging tips for media advocates

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Blogging can be a powerful communications tool for media advocacy. Whether you are just getting started or have been blogging for years, here are some tips and tricks to help your organization build and maintain a better blog.

Little improvement on food marketing to children

Saturday, December 01, 2012

Children in the U.S. continue to grow up in environments saturated by food and beverage marketing, the bulk of it for foods low in nutrients and high in calories, sugars, salt or fats. In spite of the threat this poses to kids’ health, the food industry has balked at adopting even voluntary guidelines to improve its marketing practices. As BMSG’s Lori Dorfman and CSPI’s Margo Wootan show in this article, addressing an issue of this magnitude will require an international commitment to healthy food marketing policies.

Issue 20: Struggling to breathe: How a health department is working with community members to reduce air pollution and improve health equity in Oakland

Thursday, October 25, 2012

If you want to reduce and prevent health inequities, then you have to tackle their root social, economic and political causes. For busy health departments with tight deadlines and funding constraints, this no easy task. But, as one health department in California’s Alameda County is showing, the results are worth it. And a few key strategies like collaborating with community and engaging the media can improve prospects for success.

Page 20 of 33 1 … 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 … 33