Why my campaign to promote quality and relevant science news in the Black Press matters:

Real outcomes are at stake. Science Literacy is Social Justice!

Negative health stories could discourage men in the African-American community from taking action

Feb. 14, 2013

Story Contact(s):

Nathan Hurst, hurstn@missouri.edu, 573-882-6217

COLUMBIA, Mo. ­— Obesity rates have increased dramatically in the last few decades. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, while African Americans are only 13 percent of the total population, 82 percent of black women are overweight or obese compared to nearly 60 percent of white women, and more than 70 percent of black males are classified as overweight or obese. A new study from the University of Missouri School of Journalism shows that American newspapers, and specifically newspapers geared toward an African-American audience, frame stories on obesity in a negative way. Hyunmin Lee, who performed her research while a doctoral student at MU, says this negative framing could have damaging effects on African Americans looking to lose weight. “Previous research has shown that African Americans do not respond positively to negative news stories about obesity and health issues,” said Lee, who is now an assistant professor at Saint Louis University. “Our study shows that the majority of obesity news stories are written in a negative tone, mainly attributing individual responsibilities to overcome obesity, which means many African Americans in need of weight loss could be discouraged by what they are reading in newspapers, instead of being inspired by positive success stories about overcoming obesity or other health problems.” Lee and Maria Len-Rios, an associate professor in the MU School of Journalism, examined 35 newspapers, 23 of them African-American newspapers, and analyzed nearly 400 news stories about obesity. They found that nearly all of those stories were written with negative tones emphasizing individual responsibilities for overcoming obesity. News stories with negative tones include stories about high obesity rates among African Americans and health issues that are caused by obesity. “The majority of the obesity news stories we analyzed focused on individual responsibilities and solutions that may not be achievable for many African Americans,” Lee said. “Even the stories that offered advice on ways to fight obesity were framed negatively. That advice was heavily attributed to individual responsibilities such as exercise and diet control, which are messages that are often ineffective at motivating African Americans to be healthy for socio-economic and cultural reasons.” Lee encourages newspapers, particularly ones with primarily African-American audiences, to write health stories with positive tones. Instead of stories about increasing obesity rates, she says stories promoting promising new research or positive trends in African-American health would be much more effective in motivating African Americans to make healthier choices. “Newspapers focused on writing health stories that only emphasize individual responsibilities are missing the bigger picture of social responsibility,” Lee said. “To make a constructive impact on the community, health stories that mention societal responsibilities are a necessity while avoiding advice solely focused on individual responsibility. This is because many health news stories do not consider that their audiences may live in food deserts or lack the facilities or ability to exercise safely where they live. Telling someone they have to do things that they physically cannot do to be healthy can have very discouraging and counterproductive effects on an audience that needs as much encouragement as possible.” Lee and Len-Rios’ study has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Health Communication.

One of my biggest objections to how science and health science is presented in the Black Press is the frame of how science news is presented. It often uses a voice designed to push people's buttons - of distrust or pain. I've often wondered if the desired outcome most science or health related stories are to prevent participation as opposed to open people up to opportunities. I find myself perennial frustrated, but this study is right on time. It is proof positive that the NABJ Proposal: Health Science Reporting for Under-represented audiences is much needed. The deadline for the second round of proposals for the National Association of Black Journalists is Friday, February 22, 2013. This will definitely be included in my revised proposal.

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