Public health and media advocacy

Annu Rev Public Health. 2014:35:293-306. doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032013-182503. Epub 2013 Dec 11.

Abstract

Media advocacy blends communications, science, politics, and advocacy to advance public health goals. In this article, we explain how media advocacy supports the social justice grounding of public health while addressing public health's "wicked problems" in the context of American politics. We outline media advocacy's theoretical foundations in agenda setting and framing and describe its practical application, from the layers of strategy to storytelling, which can illuminate public health solutions for journalists, policy makers, and the general public. Finally, we describe the challenges in evaluating media advocacy campaigns.

MeSH terms

  • Consumer Advocacy*
  • Health Policy
  • Humans
  • Mass Media / standards
  • Mass Media / statistics & numerical data*
  • Politics
  • Public Health*
  • Social Justice*