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Negotiating the maze of menopause misinformation: A comparative analysis of stance in health influencer versus medical professional discourse

ABSTRACT This study investigates how health influencers (HIs) and medical professionals (MPs) use epistemic stance to shape menopause treatment discourse on YouTube, a popular platform for digital health communication. Using a corpus-assisted approach, it analyzes mental and communication verbs controlling (that-)complement clauses across the two speaker groups. The quantitative results show that both HIs and MPs frequently express certainty, with HIs favoring speculative mental verbs (e.g. think, believe) and MPs predominantly relying on reporting verbs (e.g. state, explain). Further qualitative analysis reveals divergent stance-taking strategies: HIs combine subjective viewpoints with information to build emotional connections and solidarity, while MPs adopt an authoritative stance, channeling external evidence to establish credibility. The findings expound the dangers of health disinformation, as HIs tend to base claims on personal beliefs rather than scientific facts, potentially misleading viewers. To address this, MPs should prioritize clear, evidence-based communication and develop interactive strategies to engage online audiences effectively. The study foregrounds the tension between building trust and audience engagement, calling for improved digital literacy to critically assess online health content and the persuasive discursive strategies employed by influencers. Its insights contribute to understanding epistemic stance in digital health communication and offer some recommendations for mitigating misinformation.

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Inadvertent construction of inequality by digital media: Conceptualizations via the international classification of functioning

ABSTRACT This paper posits that the concept of ability acts as a confounder in digital media discourse, potentially contributing to persistence of classism and economic inequalities to the detriment of social outcomes. The International Classification of Functioning (ICF) is used as a theoretical framework, with the objective of interrogating the discursive concept of ability in digital media discourse and coding of class. Social structures and other environmental structures emerge as critical to impair ability, although historically media discourse – including scientific literature – have emphasized personal factors including existing marginalizations such as race, ethnicity, or gender. Marginalization arising from existing social structures and other environmental structures, therefore, interacts with digital media to construct ideologies surrounding class in relation to the symbolic annihilation of other forms of intersectional marginalization. The concept of structural polarization is proposed via assessment of a British framework on media stereotypes, applied to demonstrate how media discourse around marginalization can result in social stratification regardless of intent. With tremendous positive potential for digital media to be applied in social work advocacy, community empowerment, and direct provision of essential human services, twelve considerations are organized into a preliminary conceptual framework – toward supporting future media in minimizing outcomes associated with inadvertent disempowerment.

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The impact of documentary films as a form of investigative journalism: analysis of methods, ethics, and public influence

ABSTRACT Documentary films occupy a pivotal position in the formation of public opinion and serve as a productive instrument in the practice of investigative journalism. It is of the utmost importance to gain an understanding of the influence that these films have on public discourse and to address the ethical concerns that arise from this. This will ensure that the quality of this genre is enhanced and that responsible journalism practices are upheld. The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of documentary films on public opinion, with a particular emphasis on their contribution to investigative journalism. Furthermore, the study aims to examine the ethical considerations about the production of such films and their impact on the capacity of the films to engender social change. A combination of comparative analysis and surveys was employed to elicit insights from professionals engaged in the fields of documentary journalism and filmmaking. These methods permitted an examination of filmmaking techniques, ethical issues and public influence across several case studies. The study demonstrates that documentary films exert a considerable influence on public opinion, promote awareness of pivotal social issues, and reinforce democratic values. The results of the survey indicate that filmmakers rely heavily on research and analysis, followed by on-location filming and the use of hidden cameras. However, it is evident that emotional impact and archival materials also play a significant role in the production process. Documentary films serve as an efficacious medium for investigative journalism, influencing public discourse and contributing to social change. Nevertheless, the ethical creation of such films represents a significant challenge that requires attention to both professional standards and emotional labor. The findings offer invaluable insights for content creators, journalists, and filmmakers, enabling the development of more effective and ethically responsible strategies in their documentary projects. This will ensure a greater impact on public opinion and social awareness.

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