Evaluating Health Storytelling in Spanish-Language Television from a Communication Infrastructure Theory Perspective

Abstract

Latinos are at high risk for many health problems, yet they are often missed by traditional health communication campaigns that tend to deploy messages through general audience channels. New immigrant Latinos living in Los Angeles indicate a strong connection to Spanish-language television for health and medical information, but the quantity and quality of health information provided through such programming has not been systematically evaluated. Grounded in communication infrastructure theory, a content analysis of Spanish-language television news and talk shows was conducted to examine the nature of health coverage. As a primary health source for the Los Angeles Latino community, Spanish-language television could serve an important role in helping Latinos overcome health disparities by connecting them to a health storytelling network. However, findings show that the programs analyzed do not adequately connect viewers to other health storytellers or personalize information in such a way that may prompt interpersonal discussion and the dissemination of health information.

KEYTERMS:

• Communication infrastructure theory
• content analysis
• ethnic media
• health storytelling
• Latinos
• Spanish-language television

Notes

¹The same number of news shows were coded at Time 1 and 2, but with a more accurate distinction of news type at Time 2 (local and national/international news were separated into two 30-min news shows).

²A partnership between Telemundo and University of Southern California's Hollywood, Health & Society led to the airing of PSAs with these health storylines.