Health Journalists and Three Levels of Public Information: Issue and Agenda Disparities?

Abstract

This is a 2-phase study of the sources of information health journalists use and rely upon for writing health news stories. The 1st phase of the study includes both depth interviews and an online survey with 188 health journalists. Phase 2 of the study extends the findings from Phase 1, with particular attention paid to the roles of public health information officers at 3 government levels: local, state, and federal. Results from this study suggest that a monolithic, “1-size-fits-all” media relations model for public information officers is not adequate in the current health news environment. Findings explore differences in perceptions of the value of public information sources at 3 levels and suggest that some bureaucratic inefficiencies may interfere with more effective source/subsidy–provider relationships.

Notes

¹Confidential journalist issue, conducted as part of a project in this line of research at a Health Journalists' News Briefing, April 12–13, 2007, Lake Blacksheer, GA.

²Confidential journalist A interview, Association of Health Care Journalists, Minneapolis, MN, March, 2004.

³This paper, “Sources of Information for Health Journalists,” was presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Communication Association, November, 2004, Chicago, IL.

⁴The 12 states include: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, plus the District of Columbia.

∗Significant at the .01 level.

∗∗Significant at the .05 level.

^a Equal variances are not assumed.

⁵Confidential journalist interview, University of Georgia, March, 2005.

⁶Confidential journalist interview, Association of Health Care Journalists, Minneapolis, MN, March, 2004.

⁷Confidential journalist issue, conducted as part of a project in this line of research at a Health Journalists' News Briefing, April 12–13, 2007, Lake Blackshear, GA.

This article was submitted to and accepted by former JPRR Editor Linda Aldoory.