by: Heather Gehlert
posted on Thursday, November 18, 2021
New media analysis research from Berkeley Media Studies Group, conducted for Voices for Healthy Kids, an initiative of the American Heart Association, reveals strategic communication lessons for advocates looking to implement taxes on sugary drinks.
by: Heather Gehlert
posted on Friday, September 17, 2021
As gun violence rises and journalists pledge to cover the issue more effectively, BMSG researchers wanted to know how news about gun violence and firearm suicide has changed in recent years. Has the volume of coverage in California outlets increased or decreased? What types of violence receive the most attention? Is prevention present? A forthcoming BMSG news analysis, conducted in collaboration with our partners at the Hope and Heal Fund, will answer these and other questions about gun violence in the news. To learn more and to hear directly from our researchers, register for this Oct. 7 webinar.
Tags: community violence, domestic violence, firearm suicide, gun violence, news analysis, public health, violence prevention
by: Heather Gehlert and Shaddai Martinez Cuestas
posted on Thursday, June 24, 2021
When presented strategically, data can help tell an important story about childhood trauma. Here are a few tips for presenting numbers in ways that advance efforts to reduce adversity, promote resilience, and improve health outcomes.
Tags: ACEs, adverse childhood experiences, childhood trauma, data, PACEs, strategic communication
by: Heather Gehlert
posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Sharing messages and conducting outreach on social media may be an important way to advance equity, as doing so allows advocates to bypass traditional gatekeepers and elevate voices of color in a historically white, male-dominated industry. But how effective is this approach? A new study about tweetchats, published last month in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, offers insights into how effective these social events have been in making health inequities among Latinx populations more visible and moving people to act.
Tags: health equity, media advocacy, tweetchats
by: Heather Gehlert
posted on Friday, December 11, 2020
With so much at stake this year, advocates and organizers have been working tirelessly to sharpen their communication skills and make the case for solutions that advance equity, justice, and health. Those skills have shone through the many op-eds, letters to the editor, and other forms of media advocacy we have been tracking throughout the year. As we compiled our annual Top 10 list, these media bites stood out to us for their clarity, creativity, and overall impact.
Tags: media bites
by: Heather Gehlert and Katherine Schaff
posted on Monday, October 26, 2020
The years of organizing that build the foundation for visible moments of social change are often hidden from view. In this blog, we go behind the scenes to learn how Bay Area organizers used the tools of media advocacy to further efforts to prevent police violence and invest in community health.
by: Heather Gehlert
posted on Thursday, October 22, 2020
At this year’s APHA, the BMSG team will share insights from our latest research on gun violence and community violence in news coverage. We will also discuss how journalists can improve their reporting on violence, and we’ll look at the role of power — and narratives about power — in furthering efforts to build safer communities.
Tags: apha, violence prevention
by: Heather Gehlert
posted on Friday, December 20, 2019
2019 has been an intense, difficult year in many ways, but these media bites, and the voices behind them, help us approach the new year with renewed passion and enthusiasm for the issues we hold dear. Check out which quotes made this year’s list!
by: Heather Gehlert
posted on Monday, October 28, 2019
This year, we’ll be presenting research on news coverage of cannabis legislation, police violence, and housing instability. Check out our sessions and connect with us in person or online using #PHIAPHA and #APHA2019.
by: Heather Gehlert
posted on Tuesday, October 15, 2019
After being diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, BMSG’s senior communication manager explores the psychological impact of the way we communicate about the disease, what that means for journalists reporting on the issue, and why people living with cancer should be steering the conversation.
Tags: breast cancer, language, metaphors, news
