publications

BMSG's issue series

Tobacco, alcohol, and processed food industries — why do public health practitioners view them so differently?

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Public health officials often view food companies as legitimate partners in improving population health, even as they eschew interactions with the tobacco and alcohol industries. In this journal article for Frontiers in Public Health, BMSG’s Lori Dorfman, along with colleagues from the U.S., U.K. and Germany, explore why this is the case, in spite of significant health harms associated with all three industries. They also make recommendations for steps that public health researchers can take to reduce harmful corporate influences on health.

What surrounds us shapes us: Making the environmental case for tobacco control

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Environments play a large role in influencing the public’s health. Yet, in the United States, most people think that individuals are masters of their own destiny. Advocates can use this resource to learn how to create messages that broaden individual responsibility frames and help people see that environments affect health. When people understand that connection, they are more likely to support policies that improve those environments.

Infographic: Nine recommendations for sugary drink tax advocates

Thursday, January 28, 2016

In 2014, the residents of Berkeley, California, launched an effort to institute the nation’s first tax on sugary drinks. Along with our partners at JSI, we examined the social media activism surrounding the successful “Berkeley vs. Big Soda” campaign on Twitter and Facebook. Based on our findings, we offer nine recommendations for advocates looking to promote similar policy changes.

Video: How news media shapes our understanding of youth violence and sexual assault

Friday, November 20, 2015

As part of an Institute of Medicine workshop on the social and cultural norms that underlie the acceptance of violence, BMSG’s Lori Dorfman discusses the role of the news media, how connections among violence, youth and race get distorted in news reports on crime, and the prevalence of language in the news that minimizes the act of sexual violence. She also addresses the need to reframe news coverage in ways that highlight the social context for violence and potential solutions.

Talking about trauma: Findings and opportunities from an analysis of news coverage

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Children who experience trauma are at an increased risk of developing mental and physical health issues later in life, with profound implications for every sector of society. Because the media play an important role in shaping policy, we examined the news to see how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are portrayed, and we identified opportunities for advocates to improve the volume and quality of coverage.

Worksheet: Developing strategic messages [pdf]

Thursday, October 22, 2015

To advance public health policy goals, advocates must know how to communicate strategically about the issue they want to address, why it matters, and what should be done about it. Use this worksheet to practice developing messages for your target audience.

Worksheet: Answering hard questions [pdf]

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Being strategic means anticipating your opposition’s arguments and preparing for hard questions, whether they’re from a news reporter, your target decision-maker(s), or even a community member who could one day become an ally. Use this worksheet with colleagues or others to brainstorm hard questions and practice your responses.

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