Category Archives: Media-related issues

Some developments and opportunities in health and the media

May 21, 2012 – 4:26 pm

Below are details of some opportunities and developments in media and health: • A US course that aims to help journalists and editors do a better job of reporting on medical research (I have been assured that Australian journalists are welcome to apply). • A call for applications for the 2012 Dart Center Ochberg Fellowships (Declaration: [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in evidence-based issues, health and medical research, rural and remote health | Comments (0)

Introducing a wealth of ideas for new online health-related publications

May 16, 2012 – 8:11 pm

Entrepreneurs and philanthropists take note: below are some terrific ideas for new health-related online publications. Croakey recently put out a call on behalf of the Public Interest Journalism Foundation for ideas for online publications covering health-related areas of need. One of the pitches will be developed during a session at the New News conference, which will [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in aged care, climate change, disasters, evidence-based issues, Health inequalities, legal issues, public health, rural and remote health, social determinants of health, social media and healthcare, women's health | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Advertising a prescription medicine to the general public: what’s going on?

May 7, 2012 – 6:16 pm

This full-page ad ran in yesterday’s Sunday Telegraph. There has been some chat on the Australian Healthcare Communicators Network to the effect that this looks very much like direct to consumer advertising (access for those on LinkedIn). The Medicines Australia Code of Conduct, edition 16: states that: 12.1 General principles The promotion of products covered by [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health & medical marketing, pharmaceutical industry | Tagged , | Comments (5)

Any ideas for a new online publication covering a health-related area of need?

May 4, 2012 – 10:40 am

Is there an area of need in health that you would like to see receive more investigation and focus? Or that could benefit from some online community building? This is your chance to pitch an idea for such a publication. The Public Interest Journalism Foundation is calling for ideas for new online health publications – [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in social media and healthcare | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Anti-smoking campaigns should focus on how big companies are using young people

April 24, 2012 – 12:09 pm

Cancer Council WA has launched an anti-smoking campaign, called “how you’re seen”, that emphasises the marginalisation of smokers, showing people smoking outside alone, in the rain and other grey conditions. You can see the clip at Mumbrella and the WA advertising blog CampaignBrief. In the article below, a nurse blogger, Rick Turner, argues the case [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in public health, tobacco control | Tagged , , , , | Comments (2)

Will social media prove useful in efforts to tackle antibiotic resistance?

April 23, 2012 – 4:25 pm

As previously reported, Sweden has shown it is possible to reduce prescribing of antibiotics. Can Australia manage similar? The NPS is hoping so – as you may have heard, it has launched a campaign using social media and mainstream media to engage the wider community in tackling inappropriate use of these drugs. (And on Thursday, the [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in consumer health information, general practice, infectious diseases, pharmaceutical industry, public health, social media and healthcare | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Efforts to minimise harm from media reporting of Breivik trial may have wider application

April 23, 2012 – 2:14 pm

The trial in Norway of Anders Behring Breivik for the murder of 77 people is generating some useful reflection about the role of media at times like this, and what can be done to minimise the suffering of those exposed to related coverage. If you’ve been following the tweets of Trygve Sorvaag (see a selection [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in child health, mental health, The Conversation, trauma | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

The latest wrap of Croakey’s coverage of public health, health reform and the works

April 10, 2012 – 8:37 pm

Croakey readers are welcome to sign up for (rather irregular) summaries of posts. If you’d like to join the mailing list, please send your email or leave it below. Here is the latest compilation, covering articles posted since the beginning of the year. The latest readership figures are now also available, showing that more than 39,000 [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in alcohol, Food, general practice, Indigenous health, Naked Doctor, physical activity, private health insurance, public health, rural and remote health, social determinants of health, social media and healthcare, The Conversation, tobacco control, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Some suggestions for improving wider understanding of the work of population health

April 10, 2012 – 1:35 pm

How can a wider audience be engaged in the broad-ranging and often complex issues of population health? Ben Harris-Roxas, a health impact assessment consultant, has some suggestions in the article below. And at the bottom of his piece are some details of a new publication and a course for those with an interest in improving the [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in public health, social determinants of health | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

The latest media coverage of Ben Cousins has been uninformed, simplistic and unhelpful

April 5, 2012 – 11:26 am

Laurence Alvis, CEO of UnitingCare Moreland Hall, writes: Media coverage of the latest developments in the life of Ben Cousins has done little to advance public debate on issues relating to alcohol and other drug dependence and recovery.  Much recent commentary has dealt heavily in uninformed opinion and has sought to pass simplistic judgement on [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in alcohol, illicit drugs | Tagged , , | Comments (0)