Andrea Tanner

Agenda Building, Source Selection, and Health News at Local Television Stations A Nationwide Survey of Local Television Health Reporters

This nationwide study of local television news health reporters examined health and medical newsgathering from the reporters’perspective. Data from this study revealed significant insight into how these health reporters receive ideas for their health stories and what motivates a health reporter to cover a particular topic. The findings suggest a link between agenda building and health reporting, suggesting that a health reporter’s reliance on sources is exacerbated by the technical nature of health and medical news. For example, more than half of respondents received ideas for their health reports directly from a health source who personally contacted them. Sixty percent said that they must frequently find a health expert to explain technical information and agreed that health sources often affect the health content making air.

What Science Communication Scholars Think About Training Scientists to Communicate

The current study involved an attempted census of first and second authors from five key journals across the subfields of science, health, environment, and risk communication between 2003 and 2008. Of those responding (n = 320), 80% describe themselves as a communication expert. Of these experts (n = 255), 57% report conducting formal training for bench scientists and engineers, science regulators, medical personnel, or journalists. The main focus of training was in basic communication theories and models. There is broad agreement that the science community would benefit from additional science communication training and that deficit model thinking remains prevalent.

Changing the home nutrition environment: Effects of a nutrition and media literacy pilot intervention

The specific aim for this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutrition and media literacy intervention targeting elementary students and their parents. The purpose of the intervention was to increase child fruit and vegetables (FV) consumption and change the home nutrition environment (measured with FV availability and accessibility and parental social support). During the intervention, students learned about nutrition, the role media plays in shaping values concerning nutrition, and developed a media campaign for their parents. A quasi-experimental research design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The media intervention was effective in changing the home environment.

Disaster communication on the internet: a focus on mobilizing information

While local television news is the most cited source for seeking news and information, many individuals also report finding their news from the Internet. During a disaster, people need access to accurate information and clear, specific instructions to help them act appropriately. Therefore, it is important to assess the volume and scope of emergency information being disseminated on local television news websites. This study analyzed the content of 293 emergency-related stories on 119 local television news websites. Mobilizing information (MI), information found in news that can cue people to act on preexisting attitudes, also was explored. Results showed that emergency information was present on nearly all (96%) of the sites examined. A majority of news stories focused on natural disasters (52%) and most frequently discussed multiple disasters (e.g., hurricanes and pandemics). Mobilizing information was present in fewer than half of the stories (44%); stories were more likely to contain identificational MI than either locational or tactical MI (p < .05). There were also significant differences in type of MI present according to U.S. region. More stories by wire and syndicated services included MI (p < 0.05). Implications for future research on inclusion of MI in general health and emergency stories are discussed.

Knowledge, Beliefs, and Behaviors: Examining Human Papillomavirus-Related Gender Differences among African American College Students.

Abstract Objective: Given recent approval for administration of a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to men, it is important to assess the HPV-related perspectives of men and women. The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in HPV knowledge, beliefs, and vaccine acceptance among college students attending 3 historically black colleges/universities in the Southeast. Participants and Methods: A nonprobability sample of 575 students completed a self-report questionnaire. Results: Males were significantly less likely to have heard of HPV, scored lower in HPV knowledge, were less likely to perceive HPV health outcomes as severe and that there was a benefit to vaccinate, reported fewer cues for vaccine acceptance, and perceived more barriers to vaccination compared to females (all p < .05). Conclusions: The gender disparities demonstrated in this study highlight the need to increase HPV-related communication/education to include men and to extend HPV research to a broader segment of the college population.

Authorship and Information Sourcing for Health News on Local TV Web Sites: An Exploratory Analysis

This study provides a nationwide examination of general health information on local television Web sites, analyzing 278 news stories on 79 Web sites. Professional authorship and expert sources of information are assessed in an effort to explain how journalists, along with individuals and organizations outside of the newsroom, influence the health news stories posted in the online environment. Stories were significantly more likely to be authored by a television staff reporter than a syndicated service or wire service. Almost 15% of the stories included no attribution or quotes from health sources. When a story did include a reference, it was most often a government source. Authorship and health content varied significantly by media market size. Primary sources of information also differed significantly, depending on the authorship and health focus of the online information.

Do Health Beliefs, Health Care System Distrust, and Racial Pride Influence HPV Vaccine Acceptability among African American College Females?

The promise of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines rests with the ability to promote widespread uptake especially among populations at high risk of cervical cancer and other associated disease outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine health beliefs and culturally specific influences of HPV vaccine acceptability among African American college females. Approximately 76 percent of participants reported HPV vaccine acceptability. Predictors of acceptability included: higher perceived benefit and lower racial pride. Findings can be used to inform development of campus-based HPV educational approaches to promote widespread HPV vaccine acceptability and safer sex practices among African American college females.

Reading Difficulty Level of Medical Resources on Television Web Sites

ABSTRACT Mass media plays a critical role in communicating health messages to the public. Local television stations are posting more health content on the Web; however, the difficulty level of this information has not been evaluated. Study objectives were to assess the content of health stories on local television Web sites, and to evaluate the reading level of these health messages. The top three health articles from 79 local television news Web pages were selected for analysis. Readability was assessed using SMOG, Flesch-Kincaid (FK), and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE). A total of 278 articles were located over a two-day search. The majority of stories were national (47.0%) and educational (48.0%) pieces. Fewer articles were breaking news (19.8%). More articles focused on both prevention and treatment (30.6%) rather than on prevention (21.6%) or treatment (21.2%) alone. Mean readability was at a senior high school level according to SMOG (Grade 11.9) and FK (Grade 10.3). Overall FRE was 51.6, implying a “fairly difficult” reading style. As broadcast news media mobilizes viewers toward online health content, they must consider the difficulty of the information and literacy abilities of their audience.

What do people really know and think about clinical trials? A comparison of rural and urban communities in the South.

Clinical trials (CTs) have the potential to provide the most advanced medical treatments and screening options and help medically underserved individuals, including those in rural communities, obtain the medical care they need. Despite the need for access to care, CT participation remains low in rural communities. This study examined what individuals in both rural and urban communities of a Southeastern state know and think about CTs. Nineteen focus groups and eight interviews were conducted statewide with a total of 212 men and women. Discussions assessed participants’ beliefs, perceptions, and sources of information about CTs, and their willingness to participate in a CT. Focus group and interview transcripts were analyzed qualitatively for themes. Urban and rural participants expressed similar beliefs about CTs. Common misperceptions were that CTs were intended for people who could not afford care and that completing a survey or participating in a focus group constituted a CT. Rural residents believed that CTs involved deception more often than urban residents, and they were less willing than urban residents to participate in a CT in the future. Urban residents more frequently discussed their distrust of the medical system as a reason for not wanting to participate. Many individuals expressed that their participation would depend on whether their doctor recommended it or whether the trial would benefit a family member’s health. Findings have important implications for health communication. Messages should be developed to address misperceptions of rural and urban communities and convey the importance of CT participation to promote and protect the health of their communities.

Health Journalists’ Perceptions of Their Communities and Implications for the Delivery of Health Information in the News

Journalists have a unique opportunity to educate the community about public health and health care. In order for health communication messages to be effective, characteristics of the intended audience must be considered. Limited attention has been given to health journalists’ perceptions of their target communities and little is known about how journalists’ perceptions may impact the delivery of health information in the news. Fifteen in-depth telephone interviews were conducted with health journalists from varying geographic regions and media market sizes. Interview questions examined health journalists’ perceptions of their target communities, the content and delivery of their health-related stories, and the current state of health journalism. Interviews were audio-recorded for transcription and thematic analysis. Health journalists perceived their audiences to be primarily mothers and adults with limited education. Participants reported they often used personal stories and strong headlines to engage their communities. They also stated that their news stories were quite technical and may not have been written at an appropriate reading level for their audience. When asked about the current state of health journalism, participants reported that there were areas for improvement. Journalists stated that increased collaborations with public health practitioners would improve their own understanding of health and medical information and allow them to develop health news content that was more appropriate for their target communities.