2014 saw several high-profile stories about violence dominating news cycles. BMSG's Lori Dorfman discusses how the media have handled those stories, the role of race in news coverage of violence, and what's missing from the picture. Read more >
Berkeley's landslide victory in passing a tax on sugary drinks, along with other cities' recent efforts to do the same, reveals some do's and don'ts in developing strategic media advocacy campaigns. Read more >
The words we use to describe public health issues can open people up to new ideas or reinforce old ways of thinking, undermining advocates' efforts to make the case for policies that support health. Here are three common phrases that may be doing the latter. Read more >
To block advocates' efforts to tax soda, the industry is wielding a well-oiled PR machine with carefully crafted messages. Knowing what its spokespeople are saying is key to fighting back. Read more >
Change takes time, especially when it comes to changing social norms and public health policy. But even the biggest industry Goliaths eventually crumble. Big Soda will be no different. Read more >
A new study from BMSG explores the tobacco industry's use of personal choice messaging to shift blame for its products' health harms onto consumers. Now Big Food is taking a page from tobacco's well-worn playbook. How similar are the two industries and what does this mean for advocates? Read more >
By not reporting more comprehensively on suicides, the news media are reinforcing the contempt many people have for those who take their own life and making it harder to demonstrate the need for prevention. Read more >
