Medical Reporting
Medical reporting is a term commonly used to describe journalism focussed on medical research, disease management and health policy.
Local TV News May Be Hazardous to Your Health
After studying health segments on 122 local television stations, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Michigan concluded, "Few newscasts provide useful information, and some stories with factually incorrect information and potentially dangerous advice were aired." Yet, "Americans rate television as their primary source of health information." The researchers noted "pervasive health stories" that aired in "more than 10 media markets" sometimes included "identical video," suggesting the use of video news releases (VNRs). Since TV health segments are around 30 seconds long, "only small portions" of the VNR package "make it onto the air." PR Week's "PR Toolbox" column suggests including "a personal story" in healthcare VNRs. "A news station doesn't want to appear as if it is promoting a product," but "someone who has a personal story to tell ... will be viewed as a Good Samaritan who wants to help others ... not merely as a spokesperson." [1]
Other SourceWatch resources
External links
- James M. Pribble, Kenneth M. Goldstein, Erika Franklin Fowler, Matthew J. Greenberg, Stacey K. Neol and Joel D. Howell, "Medical News for the Public to Use? What's on Local TV News", American Journal of Managed Care, Volume 12, 2006, pages 170-176.
- Murray Waas, "Insurer Targeted HIV Patients to Cancel Coverage," Reuters, March 17, 2010
- Paul Krugman, "Demons and Demonization," the New York Times, March 17, 2010.
- Ryan Chuttum, "Reuters is Excellent in Digging Up Insurer's Tactics," Columbia Journalism Review, March 17, 2010.
- " Bill Moyers Journal", PBS , April 13, 2010
- Murray Waas, "WellPoint Routinely Targets Breast Cancer Patients," Reuters via Common Dreams, April 24, 2010.
- Tim Noah, "Obama v. WellPoint," Slate, May 10, 2010.
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