Mass Media Information Research Articles

Relationship between Perceived Health Status and Health Practices in the General Adult Population in Japan

In order to design appropriate HIV prevention programs, it is important to examine the perception and knowledge of HIV/AIDS and methods of prevention. This article explores comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods among women and men in slum and non-slum areas in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India. Data were drawn from the National Family Health Survey, 2005-06 (NFHS-3). The sample included 3096 women aged 15 - 49 years and 1321 men aged 15 - 54 years. Pearson Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between the study variables and the background characteristics of the slum and non-slum populations. Comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods was significantly lower among women and men in slum areas as compared with non-slum areas. Com-pared to men, women had less comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods in slum and non-slum areas, even after controlling for various demographic and socio-economic and exposure variables. Interventions are needed to build knowledge of HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention methods through mass media campaigns, and information, education and communica-tion programs (IEC) on HIV/AIDS in slum areas.

Anticipated Work-Family Conflict in the Case of Female Management Students-An Empirical Investigation

Enrolment of women in the higher education in India has risen significantly after globalisation. As per UGC annual report, women enrolment in the higher education stood at 41.5% of the total enrolment in 2010–2011. It is obvious, a major chunk of this statistics is gearing up for the work force participation. In addition to this, media has paid an increasing attention towards the work-family conflict in case of working women and mostly working mothers. Here we want to explore the motivation and readiness of women career aspirants for their future work-family challenge. We have surveyed (n = 100) female management students, who intended to work, through questionnaires. Seeing the age and experience of the participants, we have kept both close and open-ended questions. The data has been analysed using content analysis. We found a significant influence of mass media information on the work family plan of these female management students. The knowledge of real world work family challenge was very poor in this sample and mostly revolved around ‘time ’as the basic constrain behind all problems. The readiness for future work family challenge could not get judged clearly in this study. This result will be very helpful in designing a chapter or an elective in the management education to generate a proactive behaviour in the career aspirants. This study has been done in a specific geographical location. Cultural influence cannot be ignored in this context. This study might result different in other regions and could trace other influential factors.

Study on Information Accessibility and Utilization Pattern of Backyard Poultry Rearer in Chhattisgarh

The present study was conducted to assess the Information Accessibility and Utilization Pattern of tribal backyard poultry in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents i.e. 12 respondents per village, selected randomly from the two blocks i.e. Bakawand and Jagdalpur (five villages from each block) in the purposively selected area for the study. A structured interview schedule duly pre-tested and validated was used to elicit information from the respondents. Data collected were analyzed using statistical tools and the results showed that 47.50 percent poultry rearers had medium (6-12) level of interpersonal information utilization, followed by (42.50%) low (0-6) level and (10.00%) high (12-18) level. Whereas for mass media information utilization majority (78.33%) of the respondents had low (0-4) level, followed by (19.17%) medium (4-8) level and (2.50%) had high (12-18) level of information utilization pattern. The mean in case of interpersonal information utilization were 7.11 and mass media information utilization was 2.90. Due to the fact that the tribal backyard poultry rearers preferred to ask the local interpersonal sources regarding the various problems they used to face in poultry management.

Critical Components of Uncertainty Communication in Life Cycle Assessments of Emerging Technologies

SummaryBecause of their recognition as a comprehensive tool of environmental assessments and their increasing use by governments and industries, life cycle assessments (LCAs) are positioned to be prominent sources of mass media information on new products and technologies. The LCA studies underlying media reports are often viewed by nonexperts after the initial reporting. However, uncertainty is rife in early assessments of emerging technologies, and LCA's ability to inform environmental opinions and decisions is limited without the accompanying communication on uncertainty. Though approaches to the technical aspects of uncertainty analysis in LCA are available in the literature, those on communicating that uncertainty, in ways that are cognitively accessible to the nonexperts, are still lacking despite their highlighted importance across various disciplines. With the focus on communication, this article uses the existing literature to derive five criteria for making uncertainty communication accessible to a nonexpert audience. Then, LCAs on engineered nanomaterial (ENM) and ENM‐enabled products, as a case study of emerging technologies where uncertainties abound, are reviewed for whether they meet these five criteria. The study concludes with recommendations for communicating uncertainty in LCAs in order to enhance their role as decision‐ and public opinion–informing assessments.

Formación crítica de documentalistas en medios de comunicación

This study takes the old myth of objectivity in the media discourse to one of the most relevant and unperceived actors of the process of its construction: the mass media information scientist or documentalist. Accepting the subjective presence of the documentalist in his/her productions, this article opts for the recognition and explicit statement of it through two actions: first, the review of the training process of mass media documentalists in public higher education institutions in such a way that technical training and critical training are combined. For this, we analyze the subjects in the syllabi of the their education programs in order to detect the deficiencies according to the objectives of the study. Finally, we propose alternative lines of training that can contribute to the transversal inclusion of critical training of mass media documentalists in those programs.

Pensar y comunicar la ciencia en femenino. Notoriedad de las mujeres científicas en Internet

The article focuses on the treatment of men and women as protagonists of specialized scientific information in the Spanish mass media. The obtained results are part of the research project I+D+i nº 2011-004-INV-00016, Proyecto de Investigación para el Fomento de la Igualdad de Género en la Información Científica (Research Project for the promotion of Gender Equality in Scientific Information). In order to achieve the set objectives, the following are analysed and studied in the project: the presence of women scientists in the Internet and in the Spanish press, the image of women scientists in the national press and the gender prejudices and stereotypes in the media representation of women scientists, the correspondence between the media representation of women scientists and their real situation in Spain, and the social perception of women scientists in Spain. In this article, we will only focus on the results of the analysis of women scientists in the Internet. The corpus of information is what was published about science, research and technology in the period June-October 2012. The software programme used for the search and analysis of the information was the programme Swotti Premium. The analysis includes a mixed, quantitative and qualitative methodology: analysis of the texts on scientific topics, focusing on gender inequality and the use of certain words. Thus, for example, we noticed that men researchers are mentioned in a 61% of the cases, 39% in the case of women. After presenting the quantitative data, on mentions and opinions, we continue with the qualitative research by seeking the nouns and adjectives that accompany the researchers depending on their gender. The dangers of this inequality directly affect citizens, who construct sexist gender stereotypes also when thinking of Science.

Communication inequalities and health disparities

A growing body of evidence suggests the link between communication inequalities and health disparities. This sets important agendas for researchers and practitioners in the arena of information and communication. Specifically, for those of us engaged in designing and mounting mass media information campaigns to counteract different health problems, this would entail a re-examination of our tacit assumptions that communication interventions based on the use of mass media can be used to address the ‘masses’ across the board.

Public (Mis)Understanding of Crime Policy

Scholars attribute the public’s low level of knowledge about sentencing and corrections to its lack of extensive criminal justice experience and consequent reliance on the media for justice-related information. However, scant research exists that evaluates how criminal justice experience affects media consumption, or how such consumption may influence knowledge about sentencing laws or the extent of imprisonment. To extend this literature, we develop and test three hypotheses about the relationships between prior criminal justice experience, reliance on the mass media for information about crime and justice, and knowledge about criminal punishment. Analysis of data from a random telephone survey of 1,308 adult Floridians reveals that individuals with prior criminal justice experience are less likely to rely on the media for crime-related information. The evidence also shows that media reliance is associated with lower levels of knowledge about criminal punishment, and that this effect is particularly strong for female respondents.

From Selma, Alabama, to Derry, Northern Ireland: Media Images and their Influence on Civil Rights Demonstrations

Using Ball-Rokeach and DeFleur's Media System Dependency (MSD) theory that during times of conflict the public looks to the media to answer questions ease uncertainty and effect outcomes, this paper will analyze televised images of the U.S. Civil Rights movement and their impact on demonstrations during the Northern Ireland conflict. Matthew Loveless, discussing media effects, said, The theory of media dependency states that for societies in states of crisis or instability, citizens are more reliant on mass media for information and as such are more susceptible to their effects. Douglas Blanks Hindman studying media system dependency before and after the 9/11 attacks on the U.S., cites Ball-Rokeach & DeFleur, saying, The media system dependency model suggests that under conditions of ambiguity, as in the case of social system disruptions resulting from natural or human-made disasters, the mass media will become the public's primary information source, and media effects will become more pronounced. This paper will examine information dissemination (televised images of U.S. Civil Rights marches) as a source of power influencing public perception in Northern Ireland and showing street marches an effective form of demonstration, and will specifically focus on televised news coverage of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches and their influence on demonstrations in Northern Ireland, 1968-69. Marching as a demonstration technique, mediasavvy leaders and the singing of We Shall Overcome will be explored through documented news coverage and anecdotal research.

Critical Organization of Knowledge in Mass Media Information Systems

Critical Organization of Knowledge in Mass Media Information Systems

Analisis Wacana Isi Pesan Iklan Politik Pemilihan Kepala Daerah DKI Jakarta Di Media Internet

<p><em>Redyta Septiani, G.311.09.0042. Discourse Analysis of Political Advertising Message Jakarta Regional Head Election in Media Internet.Thesis : Study Programme S - 1 Communication Science University Semarang.</em><em></em></p><p><em>The purpose of this study was to analyze the discourse on political advertising message content Jakarta Regional Head Election delivered via the Internet. This type of research is qualitative. The data in this study is qualitative data ( data that is without the numbers or numbers ), so the data is then analyzed substantive category by reference, reference, and scientific references ).</em><em></em></p><p><em>The foundation of the theory used in this research adopt from Denis McQuail ( 2011) which states characterless new medi, not only the diversity and uncertainty in the future, but also because of the character that is postmodern. The question in this study is how the political message content on the internet.</em><em></em></p><p><em>The method used in this study is a discourse analysis method proposed by Fairclough. Discourse analysis is used to analyze the languages used in a social phenomenon as well as simple things that exist in everyday society. Sources of data used in this study is the primary data source in the political ads on the internet, Secondary data source is data obtained from the study of literature, the website as a reference and a data amplifier, and mass media information associated with the object of writing this.It was concluded that the content of political advertising messages local election Jakarta Jokowi - Ahok on the internet have text isiya able to attract audiences of Internet users with short text.</em><em></em></p>

Rizikos komunikacija Lietuvos žiniasklaidoje kiaulių gripo metu

In 2008 The Independent reported on a new influenza pandemic which can cause loss of more than fifty million lives around the world. The British Lords were talking about a bird flu strain which can rapidly spread due to conducive conditions. After a year, the World Health Organization declared the sixth threat level of swine flu pandemic. The new rapidly spreading virus became stronger and more dangerous to all people in the world. The USA was one of the first countries that recognized the epidemic being not only a health problem as the situation can be easily manipulated by psychosis. Political scenarists were creating one scenario worse after another. Swine flu swept across the Lithuania media too. The study involved the selection of keywords that served as the basis for selection of publications on swine flu; the content was divided into categories, while categories in turn were divided in subcategories; the content data was interpreted. The study of the mass media texts focused on the agenda-setting by the mass media, construction of texts and creation of social reality. The qualitative and quantitative study period spans from November 2009 to April 2010. The beginning of the analysed period was selected for the reason that in November 2009 Lithuania declared flu pandemic. June 2009 saw some sporadic reports on swine flu, however, the Lithuanian mass media did not pay much attention to the issue. However, the information flow started increasing from November when cases of swine flu become more frequent. The end of the analysed period was selected for the reason that it saw a significantly decreased spread of reports on swine flu in the analysed sources. The sources for qualitative and quantitative anglysis were selected purposefully, aiming to analyse the information in the traditional mass media: press, television and the Internet. A commercial channel of printed media, a commercial online news portal and the Lithuanian national TV channel were picked. News portal Delfi.lt and daily Lietuvos Rytas were chosen for being the most popular in Lithuania, while Lithuanian National Television was selected as the only non-commercial TV channel. A sum up of the quantitative and qualitative content analysis showed that the mass media constantly worked to inform society about swine flu, however, the content of the published informatikon was viewed negatively since it lacked the educational aspect of how to protect oneself from pandemic, it also fell short of critical and analytical evaluation of the situation. Reasoning of the experts formed a negative opinion about public authorities and their ability to manage the risk. At first the media presents these experts as authorities to be trusted yet, subsequently this trust starts sagging, a move to the attacking strategy is made which results in increased distrust both in the mass media itself and the experts. Risk communication was irresponsible.

Acute adverse events from over-the-counter Chinese herbal medicines: a population-based survey of Hong Kong Chinese

BackgroundAlthough over-the-counter traditional Chinese herbal medicine (COTC) is commonly used to treat everyday illness in many parts of the world, no population-based study has been done to examine the prevalence and factors associated with COTC-related adverse events.MethodsA cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted among Hong Kong Chinese adults in 2011 (n = 1100) with informed verbal consent. Stepwise logistic regression of demographic, attitudinal and behavioral variables was used to determine factors associated with past-year adverse events.ResultsOf study respondents, 71.7% (789/1100) reported past-year COTC use and 2.3% (25/1100) reported at least one COTC-related adverse event in the past year. Of the 27 adverse events cases reported among COTC users, the most common were allergic reactions (n = 11) dizziness (n = 5), and gastro-intestinal problems (n = 4). Pills/capsules were the dosage form that caused the highest proportion of adverse events (n = 10), followed by plasters (n = 7), creams/ointments (n = 5), and ingestible powders (n = 2).Although COTC users reporting adverse events were more likely to report greater practices to avoid adverse events (OR = 6.47; 95% CI: 1.38-30.3); they were also more likely to possess lower education levels (OR = 9.64, 95% CI: 2.20-42.3) and to have received COTC information from non-reliable, mass-media information sources such as magazines (OR = 3.32; 95% CI: 1.01-8.50) or television (OR = 2.93; 95% CI: 1.03-10.7). Package labels were also felt to be unclear by 42.9% of COTC users. A large proportion of COTC users demonstrated low levels of COTC-related knowledge, while the main impediment to greater information-seeking was the belief that reliable COTC information is not obtainable from Western health professionals.ConclusionsDespite global movements toward more stringent complementary medicine regulation, the limited accessibility of reliable information and widespread misperceptions among consumers present major challenges for the safe use of complementary medicine.

Two eras of civic information and the evolving relationship between civil society organizations and young citizens

This article explores the communicative relationship between civic organizations and young citizens as a clue to understanding the potential for youth re-engagement through digital communication. It develops a framework of two ‘civic information styles’ that contrasts the expectations of information in the mass media era with those emerging today, and proposes that one source of contemporary disconnect may be that many civic groups remain entrenched in a mass media information paradigm—and so fail to communicate in ways that resonate with young people. Existing literature suggests that recently created, online organizations will be most likely to embrace a newer, more youth-friendly communication style; those organizations working within the formal political realm may be most reticent. A study of 60 organizations’ communications through Facebook mainly confirms these expectations, but low levels of youth-friendly communications across the sample raise doubts about the likelihood of a civil society resurgence through social media.

Media use and HIV/AIDS knowledge: a knowledge gap perspective

Despite the widespread utilization of the mass media in HIV/AIDS prevention, little is known about the knowledge gap that results from disparities in mass media use. This study examined the relationship between HIV/AIDS-related mass media use and HIV/AIDS-related knowledge among urban and rural residents of northwestern Ethiopia. A hierarchical regression analysis indicated that HIV/AIDS-related mass media use has both sequestering and mainstreaming effects in certain segments of the study population, although it was not a significant predictor of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge in the total population. The knowledge gaps between individuals with high and low education and between individuals who experience high and low levels of interpersonal communication about HIV/AIDS narrowed as HIV/AIDS-related media use increased, but the gap between urban and rural residents widened. The widening gap could be explained by differences in perceptions of information salience and several theoretical assumptions. Current mass media information campaigns, which are often prepared and broadcast from urban centers, may not only fail to improve the HIV/AIDS knowledge of the rural populace but also put rural populations at a disadvantage relative to their urban counterparts. Communication interventions informed by socioecological models might be helpful to redress and/or narrow the widening knowledge gap between urban and rural residents.

Acceptability of the Components of a Loneliness Intervention Among Elderly Dutch People: A Qualitative Study

Background Healthy Ageing is a complex intervention aimed at reducing the prevalence of loneliness among elderly Dutch people. Purpose This study aimed to assess how mass media communication materials, information meetings, and psychosocial courses were received by elderly people at high risk of loneliness. Methods Face-to-face interviews with 17 independently living elderly persons at increased risk of loneliness were conducted. They provided information about factors influencing attention to and acceptability of the content of the intervention components. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed with Atlas.ti. Results The mass media communication materials were not successful in attracting attention because interviewees' expectations about the communication channels differed from what was provided, the perceived personal relevance of the message was low, and the presentation was not attractive. The content of the intervention components was not well received because the objectives and components did not connect with the priority group's perception of their environment. Discussion This study showed that the classical health education approach with one-way communication did not succeed in reaching the priority group. Translation to Health Education Practice To select appropriate theoretical methods and practical strategies, such as using storytelling and personal invitation, we recommend involvement of the priority group.

Are Rabbis Informed? Mass Media Information and Jewish Clergy in Israel

A clash of cultures exists between the world of the rabbi and the mass media environment given that the rabbi, whether in Israel or in the Jewish diaspora, emerges from a conservative culture representing established traditions and religious structures, and is confronted with accelerated cultural change exemplified by the media. To be true, the synagogue has for hundreds of years been losing its monopoly of forming moral values. If religion in traditional societies was based upon authority vested in religious bodies, in complex industrial societies there is increased emphasis upon personal choice in moral and religious matters with religious and spiritual issues increasingly mediated through print and electronic technologies. Mass media has in effect become a secondary causal agent of contemporary religious identity.

Mass media information and adherence to Mediterranean diet: results from the Moli-sani study

To investigate the association between mass media information, dietary habits and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in an Italian adult population. Subsample of 1,132 subjects (mean age 53 ± 10, 50% men) enrolled in the Moli-sani Project, a population-based cohort study. A specific questionnaire on exposure to information from various media sources was elaborated, validated, and administered. A mass media exposure score was obtained from principal component analysis of ten items of media exposure. Dietary habits were assessed based on eating patterns obtained from principal component analysis of 45 food groups derived from the EPIC food frequency questionnaire and by the Mediterranean score. In a multivariable general linear regression analysis including age, sex, social status, physical activity, C-reactive protein, total calories intake, three dietary patterns or Mediterranean score, higher media exposure was positively associated with adherence to a Mediterranean-like eating pattern (P = 0.0018) as well as to the Mediterranean score (P = 0.0005). Exposure to mass media information is significantly associated with greater adherence to both Mediterranean diet and Mediterranean-like eating pattern, an association that public health strategies should take into account.

A Vision of Conservation from School

A Vision of Conservation from School

Study of Contraceptive Practices and Reasons for not Accepting Contraceptives in Rural India: Chanai Village as a Case Study

India was the first country in the world to implement National Family Planning Programme in 1952. In spite of availability of a wide range of contraceptive and mass media campaigns and information, education and communication programmes, the population control remains a distant dream to achieve. The objective of this research was to study the prevalence of contraceptive acceptance, the type of contraceptive used and the reasons for not accepting contraceptive methods in rural area. A cross sectional study was carried out in rural field practice area of Department of Community Medicine at village Chanai, Ambajogai, Maharashtra Dt., India. Data was collected by house to house survey using predesigned and pretested questionnaire inall the married women between 15-49 years. Out of 512 married women 48.63% were contraceptive acceptors; 64.66%women were accepted permanent method of contraception. Among the temporary methods most commonly accepted was IUD by 19.28% women. Commonest reason for not accepting contraceptives was desire of children in 25.85% women followed by fear of side effects in 16.34% women