publications

BMSG's issue series

Seattle’s sugar-sweetened drink tax: An analysis of local news

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Public health practitioners around the world are excited about the potential of enacting taxes to reduce consumption of sugary drinks. However, some success stories — like Seattle’s —have not been straightforward. To help advocates understand the nuances of the public narrative that surrounded the Seattle sugary drink tax and the lessons it might hold for future campaigns, BMSG evaluated news about the tax. With support from the Voices for Healthy Kids initiative of the American Heart Association, we analyzed how the issue was covered, whose perspectives were dominant — or overlooked — and how arguments were framed.

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Tips for communicating about masks in the midst of misinformation

Thursday, September 03, 2020

Public health practitioners provide policymakers, the media, and the public with accurate, timely information. But how do they do this as misinformation proliferates and efforts to prevent illness become politicized? Although BMSG typically focuses on communication aimed at shaping health policy, as mask mandates become more common, local health departments are increasingly seeking ways to overcome the challenges they face in supporting residents in adhering to such mandates. There’s no one easy communication solution, but this tip sheet offers some quick tips and examples to help.

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Worksheet: Crafting effective op-eds

Friday, July 10, 2020

Op-eds are a powerful way to bring public health and social justice issues to the public’s attention, and to reach policymakers with suggestions for concrete policy solutions. An op-ed is a proactive media tactic that can help you shift the narrative around your issue to encourage readers to consider structural change to solve the problems in our society. Writing one can help support your overall social change strategy. Use this worksheet to organize your ideas.

Communicating about racial equity and COVID-19: Connecting data to context

Friday, May 01, 2020

Without background knowledge or proper context, when people hear statistics about racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, they are likely to attribute the cause to individual behavior. This tip sheet offers suggestions for incorporating the bigger picture into storytelling to help audiences understand the systemic causes of — and solutions to — inequities.

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Talking about health, housing, and COVID-19: Keeping equity at the forefront

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

We developed this working document to support public health practitioners, community organizers, and others who are striving, amid COVID-19, to elevate equity-focused solutions in housing and health news and before policymakers. The guide is focused on shifting the narrative from safety during the pandemic to the importance of treating housing as essential to public health.

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How can we best educate others about the impact of violence on boys and young men of color?

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

When boys and young men of color (BYMOC) have been victims of violence, they need unfettered access to support services in order to heal. Yet, many of these young people have been treated poorly as they interact with our systems. If this experience of poor treatment by systems that are supposed to serve them is a result of misconceptions by the staff at these institutions, we started to wonder: What would it take to change the narrative about young men of color? This brief, created by the Healing Justice Alliance, which BMSG supports through communication technical assistance, contains research and recommendations for creating messages that bring compassion and healing to the fore.

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Community engagement toolkit: A participatory action approach towards health equity and justice

Sunday, March 01, 2020

When those who are most impacted by inequities have an equal voice in designing and implementing solutions, we are more likely to achieve lasting results. This toolkit, created by the Center for Wellness and Nutrition, with input from BMSG, will guide local public health leaders, community liaisons, and coalitions through a step-by-step process of incorporating effective community engagement strategies into their local programs. The toolkit includes easy-to-use, action-focused activities and resources to support community members in exploring issues affecting their communities; it also contains tips for organizing, educating, and advocating for change.

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Communicating strategically about public charge: An introduction to media advocacy and storytelling

Monday, August 19, 2019

Recent immigration rule changes from the Trump administration will make it easier to deny migrants lawful permanent residence based on their use of public benefits. Under this so-called “public charge” test, an expanded number of programs, including those related to health, nutrition, and housing, will influence green card status. This storytelling module from Berkeley Media Studies Group, can help advocates communicate more effectively about these rule changes, what’s at stake, and what can be done. The module, which includes a script to help guide presenters, was developed as part of the Public Charge Training Modules for Advocates & Service Providers.

The 4 Ps of marketing: Selling junk food to communities of color

Thursday, July 25, 2019

The 4 Ps — place, price, product, and promotion — form the foundation of today’s marketing practices. However, food and beverage marketers often use these tactics specifically to target low-income groups and communities of color, raising a range of privacy and health concerns. This series of briefs describes each strategy, shows real-world examples of how they are used, and offers suggestions for advocates to take action and rein in marketing for unhealthy foods and beverages.

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