Abstract:Ethnic newspapers seek to provide local news not provided by other media, yet few studies have compared local health news in ethnic versus mainstream newspapers. Local health news in ethnic newspapers could decrease health disparities among ethnic communities who are at higher risk for certain chronic illnesses and diseases. Localized story elements could inform ethnic audiences and broaden the discussion about local health issues, shedding light on priorities of ethnic media in providing relevant health infor… Show more
“…Finally, our study demonstrated that news coverage of health issues in a rural community lacked information that would help make the news useful as a vehicle for health promotion information, suggesting that despite the promise of newspapers to serve as health communication channels, there is much opportunity to grow to realize that promise. Both of these patterns are consistent with previous content analyses of California newspapers in general (Wang & Rodgers, 2013) as well as Latino-targeted newspapers in particular (Vargas & dePyssler, 1999). …”
The media is an important source of health information, especially critical in rural communities with geographically-dispersed populations that are harder to reach through other channels. Yet health information is unequally distributed; these information disparities are compounded in rural areas, which may contribute to health disparities. We identify and describe health-related news in a culturally-diverse rural California county characterized by high levels of poverty, unemployment, low educational attainment, and over half of Mexican-origin. We conducted a census of all available print news sources and then used content analysis to identify and characterize all health information printed in a 6-month study period. A total of 570 health-related articles were published. Five newspapers accounted for more than 80% of published health-related articles (n=466); only one targeted the majority Latino population. The most common topic was access to health care/insurance/policy (33%), followed by diet/nutrition (13%), infectious disease (10%), and general prevention (9%). Just over one-quarter of health-related articles included useful information. Differences across newspaper types existed: independent newspapers reported more on health-related events compared with chain newspapers, and both ethnic-targeted newspapers and independently-published papers were more likely to include useful information compared with chain newspapers. While this region suffers from high rates of obesity and diabetes, there were relatively few articles on obesity and diabetes themselves, or linking behavioral risk factors with these conditions. One area we found absent from coverage pertained to the numerous environmental health threats prevalent in this heavily polluted, agricultural area (just 40 articles discussed environmental health threats). We also discovered that coverage of social determinants of health was lacking (just 24 of the 570 health articles), which was notable in a region that suffers extreme economic, educational, and health disparities. This analysis of a rural region’s local news coverage of health issues demonstrates significant opportunity to engage with rural local media, particularly ethnic media, to disseminate health information. Such a strategy holds considerable promise to advance public health goals using a multilevel approach: From an individual perspective, improving the amount and utility of the information can inform and educate publics in areas with otherwise low levels of health information access. From a policy perspective, improving coverage of the social determinants of health could shape public opinion to support policies that improve health.
“…Finally, our study demonstrated that news coverage of health issues in a rural community lacked information that would help make the news useful as a vehicle for health promotion information, suggesting that despite the promise of newspapers to serve as health communication channels, there is much opportunity to grow to realize that promise. Both of these patterns are consistent with previous content analyses of California newspapers in general (Wang & Rodgers, 2013) as well as Latino-targeted newspapers in particular (Vargas & dePyssler, 1999). …”
The media is an important source of health information, especially critical in rural communities with geographically-dispersed populations that are harder to reach through other channels. Yet health information is unequally distributed; these information disparities are compounded in rural areas, which may contribute to health disparities. We identify and describe health-related news in a culturally-diverse rural California county characterized by high levels of poverty, unemployment, low educational attainment, and over half of Mexican-origin. We conducted a census of all available print news sources and then used content analysis to identify and characterize all health information printed in a 6-month study period. A total of 570 health-related articles were published. Five newspapers accounted for more than 80% of published health-related articles (n=466); only one targeted the majority Latino population. The most common topic was access to health care/insurance/policy (33%), followed by diet/nutrition (13%), infectious disease (10%), and general prevention (9%). Just over one-quarter of health-related articles included useful information. Differences across newspaper types existed: independent newspapers reported more on health-related events compared with chain newspapers, and both ethnic-targeted newspapers and independently-published papers were more likely to include useful information compared with chain newspapers. While this region suffers from high rates of obesity and diabetes, there were relatively few articles on obesity and diabetes themselves, or linking behavioral risk factors with these conditions. One area we found absent from coverage pertained to the numerous environmental health threats prevalent in this heavily polluted, agricultural area (just 40 articles discussed environmental health threats). We also discovered that coverage of social determinants of health was lacking (just 24 of the 570 health articles), which was notable in a region that suffers extreme economic, educational, and health disparities. This analysis of a rural region’s local news coverage of health issues demonstrates significant opportunity to engage with rural local media, particularly ethnic media, to disseminate health information. Such a strategy holds considerable promise to advance public health goals using a multilevel approach: From an individual perspective, improving the amount and utility of the information can inform and educate publics in areas with otherwise low levels of health information access. From a policy perspective, improving coverage of the social determinants of health could shape public opinion to support policies that improve health.
“…They also recorded information about the story author and geographical area discussed (see Table 4 for examples). Although these quantitative data allow us to gauge whether the story was local, they do not necessarily reflect localization, which has been defined as the process of including local story elements, such as local sources or statistics (24, 28). …”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Similar to mainstream local media, ethnic media perform a social-control function by reinforcing community norms and downplaying community conflict to promote stability; they also perform an informational function by surveilling and disseminating relevant content to communities (30). Perhaps more importantly, ethnic media are particularly trusted and influential sources of health information, primarily because they are able to achieve both personal and community relevance through localization and other targeting strategies (24, 31, 32). Although some have questioned whether they have yet to fully realize their potential as a critical health information source (24, 33), it is important to examine disparities/SDH coverage in these sources, given their centrality to communities.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Perhaps more importantly, ethnic media are particularly trusted and influential sources of health information, primarily because they are able to achieve both personal and community relevance through localization and other targeting strategies (24, 31, 32). Although some have questioned whether they have yet to fully realize their potential as a critical health information source (24, 33), it is important to examine disparities/SDH coverage in these sources, given their centrality to communities. To date, few studies have done so.…”
Background
Americans remain under-informed about cancer and other health disparities and the social determinants of health (SDH). The news media may be contributing to this knowledge deficit, whether by discussing these issues narrowly or ignoring them altogether. Because local media are particularly important in influencing public opinion and support for public policies, this study examines the prevalence and framing of disparities/SDH in local mainstream and ethnic print news.
Methods
We conducted a multi-method content analysis of local mainstream (English-language) and ethnic (Spanish-language) print news in two lower-income cities in New England with substantial racial/ethnic minority populations. After establishing inter-coder reliability (kappa=0.63–0.88), coders reviewed the primary English- and Spanish-language newspaper in each city, identifying both disparities and non-disparities health stories published between February 2010 and January 2011.
Results
Local print news coverage of cancer and other health disparities was rare. Of 650 health stories published across four newspapers during the one-year study period, only 21 (3.2%) discussed disparities/SDH. Although some stories identified causes of and solutions for disparities, these were often framed in individual (e.g., poor dietary habits) rather than social contextual terms (e.g., lack of food availability/affordability). Cancer and other health stories routinely missed opportunities to discuss disparities/SDH.
Conclusion
Local mainstream and ethnic media may be ideal targets for multilevel interventions designed to address cancer and other health inequalities.
Impact
By increasing media attention to and framing of health disparities, we may observe important downstream effects on public opinion and support for structural solutions to disparities, particularly at the local level.
“…Recent scholarship on cancer news coverage suggests that ethnic newspapers are promising outlets for the dissemination of cancer control messages (Stryker, Emmons, & Viswanath, 2007), although research finds these newspapers often fall short of providing health news relevant to specific audiences (Wang & Rodgers, 2013). Ethnic newspapers offer information that require lower literacy levels to understand (Stryker et al, 2007), which may make these news outlets more accessible to certain subpopulations, such as Latino(a)/Hispanic (henceforth referred to as Latino) immigrant populations that have lower literacy levels (Dunn-Navarra, Stockwell, Meyer, & Larson, 2012) and/or lower English language proficiency (Sentell & Braun, 2012).…”
Objective:
Ethnic newspapers have the potential to reach and influence various cultural and ethnic subpopulations traditionally underserved in the United States. The current study sought to explore how ethnic news consumption interacts with health motivation to predict cancer prevention behaviors in a sample of Spanish-speaking adults.
Design:
Participants (N = 100) completed a survey in Spanish, with items measuring demographics, acculturation, health literacy, health motivation, ethnic newspaper consumption (for two papers: La Viva and La Raza), and cancer prevention behaviors.
Results:
Results indicated consumption of ethnic newspapers correlated positively to acculturation, and cancer screening utilization. In hierarchical regression analyses, the interaction of consumption of an ethnic newspaper (La Raza) and health motivation predicted two of the six prevention behaviors assessed: avoidance of fatty foods and screening behavior.
Conclusion:
The study provides evidence that consumption of Spanish-language newspapers enhances the likelihood that individuals with high levels of health motivation will engage in healthy behaviors. This finding highlights the utility of utilizing Spanish-language newspapers to reach underserved populations.
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