In this news analysis, we explore what arguments pro- and anti-tax campaigns made, how the soda industry was characterized in news coverage, and what this means for advocates looking to reduce soda consumption in other cities.
Advocates can use this case study, produced in collaboration with our partners at John Snow, Inc., to strategize about using social media in their campaigns to pass sugary drink taxes, fight chronic diseases and protect public health.
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.
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.
BMSG’s Lori Dorfman was among several public health panelists at the October 2015 European Public Health Conference in Milan, Italy. Drawing on recent BMSG research, Dorfman discussed U.S. news coverage of corporate actors in food and beverage policy debates.
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.
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.
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.
It’s one thing to develop a strategic message. It’s an entirely different skill to deliver your message in a strategic way. Use this mock interview activity to help you stay on message and further your policy goals.
Creating a media advocacy calendar can help you identify key moments in the political process or opportunities — such as holidays, anniversaries or other key dates — that you can leverage to garner media attention. Use this worksheet to help you identify news hooks and prepare for newsworthy events in advance.
