Date of Award

1998

Degree Name

Journalism

College

W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Type of Degree

M.A.J.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Harold C. Shaver

Second Advisor

Corley F. Dennison

Third Advisor

Ralph T. Turner

Fourth Advisor

Leonard J. Deutsch

Abstract

Local media should carefully consider whether or not their health information coverage provides current and useful information to people living within their viewing area. Media play an important role in providing Americans with pertinent health information. As Greenberg and Wartenber (1990) suggest, “American people receive two-thirds more cancer prevention information from television than from their physicians.” Therefore, local television media should make a conscious effort to educate themselves about which health diseases and problems most affect people within their viewing area. For example, people living in Appalachia experience health conditions that are not consistent with those experienced in every region throughout the United States (Walker 1996). Local health news should not contain regurgitated health research and studies if the information given presents no applicable use to the viewing audience (Walker 1996).

Subject(s)

Health in mass media.

Television in health education.

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