Policy, Culture, and Health
There are many ways to think about linkages among policy, culture and health. First, which issues receive attention, or are highlighted as an immediate public interest, influences policy agendas and the way policy debates are approached. These policy decisions may influence the health outcomes of constituents. For example, how discourse on abortion is presented and reported sets the frame for the discussion of women's health and impacts policy decisions and thus women’s reproductive health. How are arguments framed? Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City attempted to ban sugary drinks being sold in cups larger than 16 oz. by food service establishments. Some business associations and politicians re-framed the action from the major public health problem of "obesity," to an issue about restricting "choice" or "personal freedom" and about "too much government." It is notable that this type of re-framing around individual rights (in this case, the right of an individual to buy soda in a single, super large serving) is especially common in the U.S., where individualism "sets the stage" for media frames.
Other scholars have analyzed media influence on policymakers and the relationship to policy outcomes (Yanovitzky 2002). Finally, scholars' work on the impact on health of narrow cultural frames and definitions about gender, race, ethnicity, body, mothering, and so on, has implications for policy makers.
Reference
Yanovitzky, Itzhak. 2002. “Effects of News Coverage on Policy Attention and Actions A Closer Look Into the Media-Policy Connection.” Communication Research 29:422-51.
Resources
Andrews, Kenneth T., and Neal Caren. 2010. “Making the News: Movement Organizations, Media Attention, and the Public Agenda.” American Sociological Review 75:841-66.
Collins, Patricia A., Julia Abelson, Heather Pyman, and John N. Lavis. 2006. “Are We Expecting Too Much from Print Media? An Analysis of Newspaper Coverage of the 2002 Canadian Healthcare Reform Debate.” Social Science & Medicine 63:89-102
Graffunder, Corinne M., Rita K. Noonan, Pamela Cox, and Jocelyn Wheaton. 2004. “Through a Public Health Lens. Preventing Violence against Women: An Update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Journal of Women’s Health 13:5-16.
Maxwell, Kimberly A., John Huxford, Catherine Borum, and Robert Hornik. 2000. “Covering Domestic Violence: How the O.J. Simpson Case Shaped Reporting of Domestic Violence in the News Media.” Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly 77:258-72.
Sheperd, Hana R. and Nicole Stephens. 2010. "Using Culture to Explain Behavior: An Integrative Cultural Approach." Social Psychology Quarterly 73:353-54.
Other scholars have analyzed media influence on policymakers and the relationship to policy outcomes (Yanovitzky 2002). Finally, scholars' work on the impact on health of narrow cultural frames and definitions about gender, race, ethnicity, body, mothering, and so on, has implications for policy makers.
Reference
Yanovitzky, Itzhak. 2002. “Effects of News Coverage on Policy Attention and Actions A Closer Look Into the Media-Policy Connection.” Communication Research 29:422-51.
Resources
Andrews, Kenneth T., and Neal Caren. 2010. “Making the News: Movement Organizations, Media Attention, and the Public Agenda.” American Sociological Review 75:841-66.
Collins, Patricia A., Julia Abelson, Heather Pyman, and John N. Lavis. 2006. “Are We Expecting Too Much from Print Media? An Analysis of Newspaper Coverage of the 2002 Canadian Healthcare Reform Debate.” Social Science & Medicine 63:89-102
Graffunder, Corinne M., Rita K. Noonan, Pamela Cox, and Jocelyn Wheaton. 2004. “Through a Public Health Lens. Preventing Violence against Women: An Update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Journal of Women’s Health 13:5-16.
Maxwell, Kimberly A., John Huxford, Catherine Borum, and Robert Hornik. 2000. “Covering Domestic Violence: How the O.J. Simpson Case Shaped Reporting of Domestic Violence in the News Media.” Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly 77:258-72.
Sheperd, Hana R. and Nicole Stephens. 2010. "Using Culture to Explain Behavior: An Integrative Cultural Approach." Social Psychology Quarterly 73:353-54.
