I. News Media Coverage and Health Information
-Media outlets or organizations do not see themselves as a part of or contributing to the public health system.
- The more coverage a topic receives in the news, the more likely it is to be a concern of the public. Conversely, issues not mentioned by the media are likely to be ignored or to receive little attention.
-The unfolding news coverage of HIV/AIDS provides a good example of how an important health issue may be invisible to the public eye until the media bring it to light.
-The media also play an important role in gaining the attention of specific opinion leaders, including politicians, governmental regulators, community leaders, and corporate executives, among others.
-News attention to specific issues, however, may also distort public perceptions and change behavior in adverse ways.
- Large-scale health communication campaigns seeking to change behaviors were first seen in the United States in the eighteenth century in the form of efforts to educate the public about infectious diseases and the benefits of immunization
-Broadcasters can help create conditions for improved population health by choosing to donate time for PSAs that convey health-promoting messages.
-Many people report that the information that they receive in the media has an important influence, often indirectly or directly affecting their behavior.
Agenda setting role of the media
"The agenda-setting theory suggests that the pervasiveness of mass media and the passivity of audiences allow the media to shape opinions". Media play a crucial role in setting and influencing the public agenda; the media affect people's perception of the severity of health problems and how they should react during a crisis, and misinformation can lead to a public health disaster.
c. Tensions between journalists, the scientific community, and policymakers.
1-The media and governmental public health agencies can enhance their understanding of each other's methods and perspectives. (e.g., through communication between health officials and journalists or reporters).
2-Hartz and Chappell (1997) found that scientists complained that reporters do not understand many of the basics of their methods, including the proper interpretation of statistics, probabilities, and risk. Journalists viewed scientists as being too immersed in esoteric jargon and unable to explain their work simply and cogently, whereas scientists said the news media oversimplify complex issues.
3-Public health officials, however, are typically trained primarily in the sciences and not in using media channels to promote health or convey health information. This disconnect can give rise to confusion and less than optimal utilization of the media to promote public health goals.
4- Journalistic efforts to enhance audience interest may violate other traditional scientific norms. For example, to create a human-interest angle, journalists may look for personal stories and individual cases, although this may distort research findings that have meaning only in a broader statistical context.
5-In response to the need for better health and science reporting, governmental agencies and foundations have developed programs for journalists that seek to provide them with experiences that will deepen their subject matter knowledge and strengthen their reporting. (e.g With funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the CDC Foundation sponsors the Knight Journalism Fellowship at CDC (CDC Foundation, 2002).
Scientists link education with health, saying that people with more education are more likely to learn about health and health risks, improving their literacy and comprehension of complex issues critical to their wellbeing.
According to an article in science direct;
“55%–90% of education-based inequalities in hypertension (89%), cardiovascular diseases (56%), and diabetes (75%) could be explained by health practices–especially current smoking and overweight. By contrast, most income-related inequalities in health outcomes could not be explained by health practices”
In Wicomico County, MD, the health department, for the moment, have limited services due to the covid-19 crisis.
"Community Health Services will provide limited services. Staff will still answer incoming calls. Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) treatment programs and the Tuberculosis program will be the only clinical services provided until further notice."
The local media at the moment are focused on the news of the vaccine distribution and are not reporting on the number of students who are dropping out of school.
Policymakers, the scientific community, and reporters
The relationship between the policymakers, the scientific community, and reporters should always be connected to have more and better diffusion of information when there is interference between them is when the misinformation affects people's perception, health, and community.
II. Media and Health Communication
The communication campaign about covid 19, at first, was not strong enough in other countries; due to US policy, scientists gave their version about the danger of the virus, but the government did not pay enough importance.
When the crisis began, the media did their part, keeping the population informed and giving biosafety recommendations.
Local media like WBOC kept us informed about what was happening in the country and the state. Moreover, it continues to follow up with the COVID-19 LATEST NEWS section.
A national news media, CBS, we can find the lasters information about the coronavirus crisis.
All the media did a great job communicating to the population the seriousness of covid-19 and actions to be taken, unfortunately, when the media relaxed in giving information on this issue, the population also began to lower the guard in terms of preventive care.
This shows the significant influence that the media has on society. That is why it is important to be careful when we choose where we get the news from. A lousy decision can put our health and that of our family at risk.
The media is not broadcasting the numbers of students who have dropped out of school during the pandemic.
III. Strategies Using Media Tools to Promote Population
Using social media and effective school health classes to promote Health education are two of the best strategies we can use.
Engaging Your School Community Through Social Media
"Social media use has been expanding in public health and health promotion because it can cut off geographic and physical access barriers. "
Checklist for journalist: SARS-CoV-2
-All symptoms have to be taken seriously.
-Not all disinfectants are safe for health, be careful what you recommend.
-People who are sick with coronavirus have done nothing wrong, do not imply it is their fault.
-Fewer cases in the area do not mean that the virus has disappeared or is no longer an important issue.
-Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but different viruses cause them.
-Do not make recommendations that health scientists have not suggested.
- People of all ages can become infected with the virus.
Main terms
Symptoms, respiratory illness, SARS-CoV-2, contagious, all ages.
Social and behavioral sciences relevant during a pandemic
Covid-19 vaccine brochure