Potential Barriers to Mass Media Coverage of Health Issues: Differences Between Public Information Officers and Journalists Regarding Beliefs Central to Professional Behaviors

Abstract

This study sought to discover differences in beliefs between public information officers (PIOs) and mass media journalists regarding health coverage. In Internet surveys of 2 randomly selected samples of PIO and journalist members of the National Association of Science Writers, respondents (N = 190) indicated levels of agreement/disagreement with 19 belief statements concerning professional practices and mass media coverage of science, health, and technology issues. Statistically significant differences were found between the 2 groups on 10 statements. These differences may help to explain—and to resolve—disparities and disconnects between the 2 regarding agenda-setting and perceived relative importance of health-related issues.