Potential Barriers to Mass Media Coverage of Health Issues: Differences Between Public Information Officers and Journalists Regarding Beliefs Central to Professional Behaviors Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • This study sought to discover differences in beliefs between public information officers (PIOs) and mass media journalists regarding health coverage. In Internet surveys of 2 randomly selected samples of PIO and journalist members of the National Association of Science Writers, respondents (N = 190) indicated levels of agreement/disagreement with 19 belief statements concerning professional practices and mass media coverage of science, health, and technology issues. Statistically significant differences were found between the 2 groups on 10 statements. These differences may help to explain-and to resolve-disparities and disconnects between the 2 regarding agenda-setting and perceived relative importance of health-related issues. 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF PUBLIC RELATIONS RESEARCH

author list (cited authors)

  • White, J. M., & Wingenbach, G.

citation count

  • 6

complete list of authors

  • White, Judith McIntosh||Wingenbach, Gary

publication date

  • April 2013