Why medical journalism wins public health journalism: systems thinking recommendations for health-promoting media
ISSN: 0965-4283
Article publication date: 26 January 2021
Issue publication date: 1 February 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Health-related issues are widely covered in news agencies by medical and health journalists. The quantity, format and quality of their coverage influence the general public as well as policymakers and professions. Current studies and observations suggest that news agencies are more dominated by medical topics (disease, symptoms, epidemiology, treatment and medicines) than general public health issues (risk prevention, health protection, education and promotion). This study explores the causes of the current situation in Iran and generates solutions for supporting health-promoting media that may also prove beneficial for other countries.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative study was conducted to explore the coverage of health-related topics in selected news agencies. Stakeholders, including health journalists, health professionals and public relations staff at the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education were interviewed. Data were collected until data saturation was reached. The transcripts of all the 17 interviews conducted were analyzed using conventional content analysis.
Findings
Four groups of causes were identified, including individual factors, organizational factors, socioeconomic factors and the different nature of medicine and public health. The participants proposed several solutions that were classified into three categories, including the empowerment of stakeholders through capacity development, organizational change and mutual communication and culture change.
Originality/value
Creating health-promoting media is a complex but urgent task, and providing a comprehensive and deep understanding of the dynamic interdependencies of the multiple factors at play in it and developing and implementing the most effective interventions for it requires a systematic approach.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The article is part of PhD thesis of the first author, funded by School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Authors would like to thank all interviewees for their participation in this research.
Citation
Mohammadi, S., Ramezankhani, A., Montazeri, A., Nasrollahi, A. and Keshavarz Mohammadi, N. (2021), "Why medical journalism wins public health journalism: systems thinking recommendations for health-promoting media", Health Education, Vol. 121 No. 2, pp. 161-173. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-05-2020-0033
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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