Using the Power of Media to Influence Health Policy and Politics

RUNNING HEAD; USING THE POWER OF MEDIA TO INFLUENCE HEALTH POLICY AND POLITICS

USING THE POWER OF MEDIA TO INFLUENCE HEALTH POLICY AND POLITICS

Using the power of media to influence health policy and politics

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Media is the main means of communication which entails broadcasting, publishing, and internet which relays important information to people. Therefore mass media can be grouped into two; the broadcast model that sends a message out to many from one broadcaster for example radios, television, film and newspaper and the new model in which many people create their media and send information which is distributed to their network and received by many people. Hence media is a powerful tool in influencing health policy and politics by changing the set rules by the public to other alternatives and viable sources that influence key healthy policy decision that better the lives of the people.

At present, the current status of the media ensures that people are updated and informed about what’s happening around them and the whole world at large. Its purpose is to inform and educate people so that they can draw information that helps them form opinions and make judgment on various issues. People now can easily access health-related issues from the media as compared to the past years where many people were illiterate thus could not read and write, and more so the different media technology had not been formed. The early man used to draw and paint in their caves which were a way of communication before new technologies came to life. They used hand to write each book as compared to now where there is printing thus producing mass production of books and newspaper that was followed by advancement in technologies that resulted to making of radios, television, and internet. Mass media has improved with time forming the kind of technologies we have now in the 21st century which is fast and efficient as compared to the old ones.

Additionally, media is controlled by corporation who make an editorial decision based on the financial interest that will benefit the company where else the public controls social media to cover issues that major newsroom find unfit for their time and space. Thus it’s easier to access information hence promoting public awareness. Likewise, media is a very powerful tool which ensures important issues reach the public and policy maker thus making them come up with alternatives and options that influence key health policy decision by opposing or supporting specific policy change.

Furthermore, the media has the potential to advance public health by emphasising on social accountability, which provides understanding to the public while motivating them to participate thus applying pressure for policy change through public health campaigns. Similarly, media advocacy targets the people with health problems and policymakers thus applying pressure on decision makers by harnessing the power of media thus bringing about policy change. Tools used for advocacy include social marketing which uses marketing principle to influence human behaviour to improve health thus benefiting the public and increasing their knowledge.

In conclusion mass media is a crucial instrument in advocating for changes in health policy thus bringing change which leads to a better health care system and improvement of the public.

References

1. files/Chapter12.pptx (Using the Power of Media to Influence Health Policy and Politics in CEOD )

2. files/Ch14.ppt  (Media Advocacy to Influence Policy)