Media Health: An Introduction to the Collection

Abstract

Stories focuses on how journalists and other media actors apply personalized frames and narratives, both visual and verbal, in representing and conveying health issues. As the media will accompany individuals throughout their lives (Levin-Zamir & Bertschi, 2018), attention should be paid to how stories and experiences are shared with the public, especially when related to health and well-being. In this volume, we take our point of departure from the World Health Organization (WHO), which defines health as "complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" (WHO Constitution 1946). We also take a holistic approach in our writing by reflecting on a broad range of issues pertinent to the field, and how these are presented in contemporary media spaces such as news journalism, government communication and social media. Two media trends have motivated us to write this book. Firstly, health issues are increasingly being covered by contemporary media (Briggs & Hallin, 2016; De Dobbelear, Van Leuven & Raeymaeckers, 2018). By critically reflecting on diverse health discourses articulated by different actors and sources, such as patient narratives, as well as discourses of identities and risk, we expand on the findings of earlier media health meta-narrative research (see Seale, 2003). Secondly, the media are increasingly raising issues traditionally connected to the private sphere in public spaces (see Fairclough, 1992, 1995; Bird, 2000; Coward, 2013). A study of the Danish media around the turn of the century states that there has been a blurring of the boundaries between lifestyle, cultural and consumer journalism in an increasingly competitive media landscape (Kristensen & From, 2012, pp. 38-39). They cite the influence from magazines and TV, which has certainly led to more focus on persons, the personal and the private sphere.

Fire diskurser om korona

“…Journalistens rolle blir da å formidle de faglige rådene og oppdagelsene på en mest mulig forståelig måte. Når helsekommunikasjonsforskere kritiserer journalister for å velge ikke-representative casepersoner eller på andre måter fordreie eller forenkle medisinske forskningsresultater (Hinnant et al, 2013;Levi, 2000), argumenterer de innenfor den biomedisinske diskursen (Fonn et al, 2020).…”