How Journalists Characterize Health Inequalities and Redefine Solutions for Native American Audiences

Abstract

Many Native American communities experience severe health inequalities, including shorter average lifespan and higher rates of chronic illnesses. Journalism that serves Native Americans is a promising channel for heath communication, but only if scholars first understand the particular cultural contexts of indigenous communities. This research contributes to that goal by investigating how journalists serving Native American communities characterize health and the issues they identify with covering determinants of health. In in-depth interviews (N = 24), journalists contrasted how they cover health issues as embedded in cultural context with shallow, more negative coverage by non-Native media organizations. Interviews also revealed a tension between "medical" and "cultural" models of health, contributing to the oversaturation of certain issues, like diabetes, while other health topics are underrepresented. The journalists also expressed how social determinants and histories of oppression shape health inequalities, illuminating the roles of historical trauma and the destruction of indigenous health beliefs and behaviors. Failure to recognize these issues could stymie efforts to communicate about health issues facing Native American audiences.

Responsibilities to the story, campaign(er), and profession: Exploring important considerations shaping Canadian print journalists' coverage of medical crowdfunding campaigns

“…Participants' careful navigation of such ethical tensions, which included sometimes reaching out to medical professionals for confirmation or input, serves as an interesting contrast to their belief that selective coverage of medical crowdfunding campaigns can be done to highlight health system gaps or limitations. There is a longstanding tradition of using journalism to highlight inequities and injustices, including in relation to health care access and use (Hinnant et al, 2019; Wallington et al, 2010; Walsh‐Childers & Braddock, 2018). In the Canadian context this often translates into critical coverage of access gaps and wait times in the public health care system along with pushes to increase health care privatization (Armstrong, 2001; Barua et al, 2018; Hurley & Guindon, 2008).…”

“…There is a longstanding tradition of using journalism to highlight inequities and injustices, including in relation to health care access and use (Hinnant et al, 2019;Wallington et al, 2010;Walsh-Childers & Braddock, 2018). In the Canadian context this often translates into critical coverage of access gaps and wait times in the public health care system along with pushes to increase health care privatization (Armstrong, 2001;Barua et al, 2018;Hurley & Guindon, 2008).…”