Media Training Research Articles

Counter-spin: A Response to Boyd Neil

Boyd Neil writes that I have become something of a “bete noir” in the public relations industry since the initial broadcast of my “Spin Cycles” series in 2007. Actually, my experience has been quite the opposite. I have been both gratified and surprised by the enthusiasm and interest shown in the series by public relations professionals in Canada and elsewhere. This leaves me to wonder: why have so many in PR embraced the series and Mr. Neil has not? Judging by the review presented above, I can offer one possible answer. They listened closely to what I was actually saying, and Mr. Neil did not. I am happy that Mr. Neil found some merit to the series, including his recommendation that parts of it should be required material for students of PR; but I am mystified by many of his criticisms. In almost all cases, the complaints he raises are already addressed by various voices within the series. Take, for example, his defense of media training. He is correct that I lay out the standard journalistic complaint over people who are taught the fine art of message tracking, and Mr. Neil presents the standard PR defense of the practice. But in reading his review, you would never know that the prominent American PR practitioner Jim Lukaszewski has already advanced the same defense in the series. In a long and lively exchange in the second program, Lukaszewski criticizes my position using precisely the same arguments that Boyd Neil uses in his review. Mr. Neil’s criticism of my use of the word “spin” suffers from a similar problem. He may object to the definition I use (“deliberate shading of news perception”), but the definition he prefers (“willful distortion of facts to create a more persuasive or one-sided story”) was offered up early in the first program by PR author Fraser Seitel, who goes on to say “it should be antithetical to people who care about the practice of PR, to engage in spin.” Readers of this review would never guess that the case for PR is expressed forcefully and prominently throughout this series by many of its leading practitioners. In other words, Mr. Neil is well within his rights to disagree with my take on “spin” (as he is with my assessment of media training)—but he is wrong to suggest that my series advances only a singular definition. And then there is the infamous “incubator baby” story in the months preceding the first Gulf War in 1991. Mr. Neil’s company, Hill and Knowlton, working

Best practice in communications training for public engagement with science, technology, engineering and mathematics

Effective training in key communications skills is critical for successful public engagement. However, what are the secrets to designing and delivering an effectual training course? This paper outlines key findings from a research study into communication training programmes for public engagement with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The research focused on training in direct communication methods, (as separate from media training) and encompassed both trainers and trainees, the latter group spanning across both scientists and explainers. The findings indicated that training courses are effective at increasing involvement in science communication events and trainees feel more confident and able to engage due to training. An interactive style was found to be a key element of training courses. Demonstrations of good practice followed by own performance with feedback were also important, preferably involving a ‘real’ audience. A list of guidelines on best practice has been developed which offers practical advice.

Building capabilities of Egyptian journalists in preparation for a media in transition

Egypt is going through a dramatic transition in its media sector. The proliferation of satellite and Internet technology combined with pressure to free the media and the government's relative acceptance of media openness have created an environment that has attracted many agencies, associations and foundations to invest in training programmes intended to develop the journalism profession. This study was conducted to gauge these programs and to address questions relevant to these efforts. By analysing data from a survey on Egyptian journalists and in-depth interviews with media training experts, results show that Egypt's media reforms have made it possible for the paradigm of professional journalism training to emerge as a dominant theme. Egyptian journalists are enthusiastic toward training, despite some dissatisfaction. Furthermore, they have a relative highly perceived self-efficacy and conviction in their active role as agents of social change and as contributors to the development of a stronger democracy.

The Second Spring: Media Education in Canada’s Secondary Schools

Abstract Media education in secondary schools has begun to develop in the Western Canadian provinces. There is also some interest being shown in the subject in the Maritime provinces. The French‐speaking province of Quebec has its own stand on media education. In Ontario, where more than one third of all Canadians live, media education is very much alive. The Ontario government has mandated the teaching of media within the English curriculum for grades seven to twelve. There are a number of resources available for teachers, and the Association for Media Literacy provides information, workshops, summer schools, a newsletter, and in‐service training in media.

ESTRATEGIAS DE FORMACIÓN EN LOS ENTRENADORES EXPERTOS DE BALONCESTO

Develop effective media training in any area, particularly in the sports coaches training, it should focus the efforts of the responsible entities in this area and, in turn, they should be known by their own coaches. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to identify what are the educational means used by sixteen experts basketball coaches, as well as draw their relevance of each of them in developing their skills. For research, has been used qualitative methodology and technique of semistructured interview sixteen expert basketball coaches including, among others, the World Champions, of Europe, and ACB league. The results show that for the coaches, formal education (courses federal) is nonspecific and clearly improved, performed almost exclusively by the need to get the federal title. Coaches valued highly as other media, mainly informal education (daily experience as a coach, mentoring, talks with other coaches, etc). Finally, all valued aspects learning not located, for example, the acquisition of acquired leadership in the family environment, and learning produced outside the context of basketball. This makes us reflect on the restructuring of the existing training programmes in the coaches.

Social marketing leverage for heart health: The Ekaterinburg experience

Summary The Russian Federation has one of the lowest life expectancies in Europe, as well as having the highest rates of death and disability due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). In order to sensitize the professional and public-health community and the public to the growing challenge of cardiovascular disease, the World Heart Federation, in partnership with the Russian Society of Cardiology and the City Public Health Care Administration and with the support of Unilever Bestfoods, carried out a pilot social marketing project in the central Russian city of Ekaterinburg. The primary objective was to assess the viability of a cardiovascular disease-focused social marketing campaign in terms of its diffusion in the population and its acceptability. The social marketing campaign itself involved community interventions, a mass media campaign and training of health care professionals. Progress towards achieving this and the secondary objectives were measured by evaluating changes in a set of predetermined output and outcome indicators. A pre-test/post-test control-group quasi-experimental design was used for examining project outcomes. The results showed a significant level of acceptability and diffusion, which need to be further developed for large-scale use. Because of its short duration, the project cannot be held to expectations of influencing behavioural risk, but in terms of meeting its primary objective, it has been successful.

Assessing and Discussing Excellence in African Journalism Education

Editor's Note As is so often the case, attending an international conference made me think a lot about the United States while listening to speakers talk about other countries. In this case, the conference was the Consultation Meeting on Capacity Building for Potential Centres of Excellence in Journalism Training in Africa, held March 16-18, 2008, at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South First, some background: In December 2005, education experts meeting at the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) decided to identify of in African education so that UNESCO would know which to work with in developing (capacity building) education and education in The UN Economic Commission for Africa in 2006 called for a comprehensive audit of existing media training in Africa, identifying gaps, and development proposals to strengthen training. UNESCO contracted with Rhodes University's School of Journalism and Media Studies and France's Ecole superieure de de Lille (ESJ) to set up criteria and indicators and identifying centres of excellence in training in Africa. Rhodes researched programs in Portuguese- (Lusophone) and English-speaking (Anglophone) countries, while ESJ researched programs in French-speaking (Francophone) countries and the Republic of South For the purposes of this study, African journalism were defined as programs at universities and private colleges, and in nongovernmental organizations (NGOs.) Data were gathered on ninety-six programs in thirty-six of the fifty-four African countries, including sixty Anglophone, thirty Francophone, and six Lusophone. Researching the schools was often difficult, due to many schools not having Web sites, schools not responding, e-mail addresses having changed, and more. The countries whose schools the researchers had the most trouble contacting were in Algeria (one contacted, eleven not); Kenya (six contacted, seventeen not); Nigeria (twelve contacted, thirty-six not), and Tanzania (two contacted, eight not). Criteria that were eventually developed and agreed upon were: A: Curriculum and institutional capacity; B: Professional and public service, external links and recognition; and C: Development plan, strategy and potential. Criterion A consisted of curriculum, teaching resources and equipment, and assessment systems, each of those points having their own operational definitions. Criterion B consisted of interaction and relations within the profession, international networking and recognition, social participation and standing, and other external orientations, again, each of those having their own detailed definitions. Criterion C consisted of strategy, budget and sustainability, management, and challenges. Researchers decided after their data collection (which included some on-site visits) and analysis that the seven significant factors for differentiation between institutions were/are: breadth of media platforms covered by a school.... Formal mechanisms of interaction with the profession. Offer of entry-level education as well as continuing/in-service training to practicing professionals. Involvement of and/or training networks and associations. Momentum of expansion/improvement over past three years. Sustainability: commitment of overall management of school activities and diversification of national and international partners. Systems in place for development of staff. Using the significant factors for differentiation, the researchers identified twelve of and nine potential centres of reference that might eventually be of excellence. This latter group was identified by having demonstrated one or more of these characteristics: sustainability of the institution (in conditions of donor dependence or instability). …

Tobacco industry sociological programs to influence public beliefs about smoking

The multinational tobacco companies responded to arguments about the social costs of smoking and hazards of secondhand smoke by quietly implementing the Social Costs/Social Values project (1979–1989), which relied upon the knowledge and authoritative power of social scientists to construct an alternate cultural repertoire of smoking. Social scientists created and disseminated non-health based, pro-tobacco arguments without fully acknowledging their relationship with the industry. After the US Surgeon General concluded that nicotine was addictive in 1988, the industry responded by forming “Associates for Research in the Science of Enjoyment” (c.1988–1999), whose members toured the world promoting the health benefits of the use of legal substances, including tobacco, for stress relief and relaxation, without acknowledging the industry's role. In this paper we draw on previously secret tobacco industry documents, now available on the Internet to show how both of these programs utilized academic sociologists, political scientists, anthropologists, psychologists, philosophers and economists, and allowed the industry to develop and widely disseminate friendly research through credible channels. Strategies included creating favorable surveys and opinions, infusing them into the lay press and media through press releases, articles and conferences, publishing, promoting and disseminating books, commissioning and placing favorable book reviews, providing media training for book authors and organizing media tours. These programs allowed the tobacco industry to affect public and academic discourse on the social acceptability of smoking.

Communication That Gets Results Continues to Be Our Focus

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article From the PresidentFull AccessCommunication That Gets Results Continues to Be Our FocusCarolyn Robinowitz, M.D.Carolyn RobinowitzSearch for more papers by this author, M.D.Published Online:4 Jan 2008https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.43.1.0003©Sylvia Johnson Photography 2007Happy New Year.It is traditional to use the end of the calendar year to sum up the previous 12 months and make New Year's resolutions. As I complete two-thirds of my presidential year, it is time to assess accomplishments and focus work for the next four months.One-year terms are brief, even with preparation in the president-elect year. Fortunately, my theme of advocacy and communication resonates with that of Nada Stotland, our presidentelect, but I recognize the limits and have emphasized ongoing capacity building and organizational performance. Consequently, I have worked internally to strengthen the function of the Board of Trustees (more about that in my next column).My focus on communication and advocacy has addressed several groups: legislators and policymakers, the media, other physicians, other health and mental health professionals, advocacy groups such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the business community, and the public at large, especially teachers and clergy (who often are the first to notice or be consulted about mental distress), and of course, psychiatrists—our communication with each other.Our interactions with policymakers have been full of promise, but still awaiting legislative action. The process for parity passage has been demanding, with wonderful support from some in Congress and the community, but also with many challenges posed by those who are opposed to psychiatric care. As this is being written, the decision is still pending. Please call your congressional delegation to thank members for supporting full parity and nondiscriminatory access or encouraging them to do so.In concert with other medical groups, we continue to address the potentially devastating impact of the 10 percent cut in the Medicare sustained growth rate, or SGR, and modification of the discriminatory Medicare 50 percent copay for mental illness treatment. We also have been working assiduously to protect patient privacy and to promote patient safety as well as provide care for returning military, and maintain funding of psychiatric research. Communication with legislators continues to be vital for our success.We continue to strengthen our involvement with the AMA, not only in legislative affairs, but also through psychiatrists' participation in AMA councils on medical services, science and public health, education, and long-range planning. APA member Jeremy Lazarus is the highly effective speaker of the AMA House of Delegates. The AMA has expanded its work on scope of practice, involving multiple specialty organizations, and Jay Scully, our medical director, has assumed considerable leadership in that arena. Jay is also president-elect of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies, bringing a psychiatric perspective to its deliberations.We also have engaged in some specialty-specific work to inform other physicians and improve patient care. We have completed a joint report with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on SSRIs in pregnancy, and we have initiated communication with the American Heart Association on the role of depression as a risk factor in cardiovascular disease. In addition to developing educational and clinical efforts to assist primary care physicians in recognizing and caring for people with psychiatric disorders, we are working to enhance collaboration and strengthen membership with the major psychiatric subspecialty organizationsMedia interaction continues to improve in amount and quality. Our op-ed pieces and letters to the editor have been placed in the New York Times, as well as other national and local newspapers. APA members are more frequently quoted in radio and seen on TV. Public information Web sites such as HealthyMinds.org and DepressionIsReal.org receive many visits, as does our new medication guide on ADHD prepared in collaboration with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and available at<parentsmedguide.org>. We have expanded media training for residents, as well as on-site training for district branches.Under the aegis of our Partnership for Workplace Mental Health, funded by the American Psychiatric Foundation, I participated in the U.S.-Canadian Forum for Mental Health Productivity, informing the business community that promoting mental health in the workplace is not only the right thing to do, but is also a good business decision that positively influences productivity and the bottom line.Obviously, much more has been done and is ongoing. For 2008, we need to continue our communication and collaboration outside of our specialty. We need your involvement to educate the public and to assure access to care. At the same time, we will work internally to inform and involve our members. Please e-mail me at [email protected] with your thoughts and suggestions. I am looking forward to seeing you at our wonderful annual meeting in Washington, D.C., May 3 to 8 and to our work together in the New Year. ▪ ISSUES NewArchived

Sounding Eyes: Mina Loy’s Acoustic Subjectivity in “The Song of the Nightingale is Like the Scent of Syringa”

Sounding Eyes: Mina Loy’s Acoustic Subjectivity in “The Song of the Nightingale is Like the Scent of Syringa” Suzanne Zelazo (bio) During a 1965 taped interview with poets Paul Blackburn and Robert Vas Dias, the avant-garde artist Mina Loy admitted to a fascination with the sonic complexity of language. About the making of her poems, Loy confessed: “I’d only written these things for the sake of the sounds” (Shreiber and Tuma 214).1 Uttered one year before her death, Loy’s admission is among the last recorded words we have of the poet, and her remark underscores a certain dismissive posturing consistent with her self-fashioning as artist figure. Her statement nonetheless draws attention to the relationship between the materiality of language and the sensorial, betraying the extent to which her training in multiple artistic media informed her use and understanding of the extralexical aspects of the word. Primarily recognized as a poet and painter, Mina Loy was also a designer, model, actor, and inventor. She was never content to work exclusively within the bounds of one discipline and thus cultivated an artistic [End Page 77] methodology that deliberately intersected various media. Understanding her distinct penchant for multidisciplinarity not only helps to elucidate her integrationist tendency and preoccupation with liminality but also provides multidiscursive clues to the complexity of her sonic experimentation. In fact, Loy’s definition of poetry in her 1925 essay “Modern Poetry,” prioritizes sound: “Poetry is prose bewitched, a music made of visual thoughts, the sound of an idea” (Lost Lunar 157). Throughout her essay, which compares American poetry to jazz, Loy maintains that it is the acoustics of a “composite” and “living” American language “enriched and variegated with the grammatical structure and voice-inflection of many races” that is the driving force of rhythm in modern poetry (158–59). Sound, for Loy, demonstrates the interplay between semantic and non-semantic signification that characterizes communication. Loy’s precise and condensed vocabulary and syntax force the reader back to the surface of the text—to a “close listening” of its materiality. Indeed, Charles Bernstein’s introduction to Close Listening: Poetry and the Performed Word provides a very useful framework for “hearing” Loy’s sonic theorization and experimentation. Bernstein argues: It is precisely because sound is an arational or nonlogical feature of language that it is so significant for poetry—for sound registers the physicality of language, a physicality that must be the grounding of reason exactly insofar as it eludes rationality. Sound is language’s flesh, its opacity as meaning marks its material embeddedness in the world of things. Sound brings writing back from its metaphysical and symbolic function to where it is at home, in performance. (21) Similarly, Loy’s lesser-known poem, “The Song of the Nightingale is Like the Scent of Syringa” (1958), is a vivid example of her preoccupation with the productive tensions that are generated by a textual or poetic instantiation of the sonic qualities of language. The poem is a kaleidoscope of sounds and puns, and it reveals specifically how those sounds command the space of the page in a playful and complex jouissance. Reprinted in full below, the poem was first published in Jonathan Williams’s 1958 edition of Loy’s poems, Lunar Baedecker & Time Tables. Not surprisingly, it benefits from being read aloud: [End Page 78] The Song of the Nightingale is Like the Scent of Syringa2 Nightingale singing—gale of Nanking Sing—mystery of Ming-dynasty sing ing in Ming Syringa Myringa Singer Song-winged sing-wing syringa ringer Song-wing sing long syringa lingerer (80) Loy’s poem relies primarily on phonetic shifts that articulate both the “arational” and rational features of the poet’s linguistic choices. The first line of the poem invites the reader into an emotive and sensory appreciation of language, recombining “Nightingale singing” into “gale of Nanking.” Linguistically and imagistically, the first phrase is reversed in the subsequent one wherein “gale,” which denotes an emotional outburst and a strong current of air, becomes the metaphorical song of Nanking. The one-time capital of China, Nanking was invaded by Japan in 1937 and became the site of a genocide: an estimated...

Breaking Out of Academic Isolation: The Media Odyssey of a Sociologist

The professional development of sociologists involves specialized training through which we acquire and apply numerous skills. However, it is unlikely that our professional socialization includes training in how to inform the public about sociological knowledge and research through media involvement. As a sociologist who did not receive such training and was not prepared for the enormous unanticipated media and public interest given to my research topic, I provide a personal account of my unexpected metamorphosis into a media self and my experiences working with the media. I describe the nature of my professional and media obscurity, provide an overview of my initiation into media culture, and explore a self-transformation process that became necessary to manage the responsibilities associated with the media-assigned role of expert. I identify and examine the lessons I learned through extensive media involvement and the emergent realities of this involvement. Based on my experiences and resulting awareness of media culture, I offer to the discipline some suggestions and guidelines for media involvement and advocate for media training.

Who does the ‘media training’ in the world of oncology?

Who does the ‘media training’ in the world of oncology?

Industry Offers to ‘Media Train’ Academic Researchers

Industry Offers to ‘Media Train’ Academic Researchers

Structural Violence AgainstKothi–Identified Men Who Have Sex with Men in Chennai, India: A Qualitative Investigation

This qualitative investigation explored the experiences and contexts of stigma and discrimination among HIV-positive and high-risk kothi-identified men who have sex with men (MSM) in Chennai, India, and ramifications for HIV prevention. MSM were recruited through community agencies (n = 10) and public sex environments (n = 8), along with three key informants. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted, audiotaped, and transcribed. Narrative thematic analysis and a constant comparative method were used to identify themes. Findings revealed multiple intersecting social and institutional contexts and experiences of stigmatization, discrimination, and violence across police, community, family, and health care systems, as well as illuminating consequences for MSM. Multisystemic structural violence places kothis at extreme vulnerability for HIV infection and AIDS. Public mass media antidiscrimination campaigns, education and training of health care providers and police, funding of indigenous MSM community organizations, and decriminalization of consensual sex between same-sex adults may help to combat stigma, discrimination, and violence against MSM, which is fundamental to effective HIV prevention.

Good Morning Montenegro: Transplanting American Television News Culture into an Emerging Democracy. A Case Study of Media Training in the Balkans

What happens when you take a staple of the American morning news diet—a hybrid recipe based on ingredients found in NBC's The Today Show and ABC's Good Morning America—and serve it up in the state-run television newsroom in Montenegro? Why would the U.S government facilitate and fund this effort, and what's the impact on local journalism routines during and after the training? This study reports about one faculty member's experience working as a broadcast news media trainer in Montenegro, reflects on the short- and long-term value of such training, weighs the benefits for the country's media environment, and recommends guiding principles for others who might conduct similar “overseas” projects. This research builds upon the scholarly record of the international media trainer's role, its potential impact on the newsroom culture of foreign nations, and, perhaps most importantly, what the teacher-trainer learns from overseas professionals that can benefit stateside classrooms and newsrooms. Journalism educators play an important part not only in training, but secondarily, in mediating cultural transformations.

Getting ready for crises: Strategic excellence

Results of a national survey indicate that organizations are better prepared by having a crisis plan and a crisis management team in place. However, crisis personnel often receive little individual, team, and media training for effective crisis response. Excellent communication culture positively relates to crisis preparations with respect to having a crisis plan, maintaining a crisis team, formulating comprehensive training programs, and engaging in training frequently. Excellence also predicts whether or not public relations professionals are included in a crisis management team.

Foreign Aid in Pacific Media Education

Since New Zealand development assistance helped establish the South Pacific’s first journalism school at the University of Papua New Guinea in 1975, many international aid agencies have contributed to media training and education in the region. Among the donors in a competitive environment, have been AusAID, Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), NZAid, UNESCO and the World Association of Christian Communication (WACC). Since the late 1990s, the influence of AusAID has become dominant in the region through the establishment of multimillion dollar media and governance aid projects that have included the Pacific Media Initiative (PMI), Pacific Media and Communication Facility (PMCF) and Media in Development Initiative (MID). Many United Nations agencies and non-government organisations have established media training in the region. “Chequebook diplomacy” rivalry between China and Taiwan has also impacted on the media. The trend has major implications for the Pacific media and governance in the 21st century. This paper examines the politics of aid in an abridged three-decade history of Pacific journalism education and training, considers the impact on Divine Word University, University of Papua New Guinea and the University of the South Pacific journalism schools and reflects on the efficacy of international aid policies on media development in Oceania in the digital age.

Media 101: Media Training Workshop Teaches ISHRS Members the Art of Being a Good Spokesperson

1. Robert T. Leonard Jr., DO, Chair, ISHRS Media Relations Committee 1. Cranston, Rhode Island 2. Karen Sideris, ISHRS PR Consultant 1. Highland, Indiana It’s a typical busy day at your practice, and during a break in surgery your office manager informs you that a reporter from a

Canada Research Chair in Ethnomusicology

Like most Canada Research Chairs, I have been involved with an array of curricular and community initiatives, as well as new research and new reflective / interpretive work. The primary work in each of these areas is described below. Space In order to have the studio facilities, meeting and resources to undertake a wide array of projects, I established the Research Centre for the Study of Music, Media and Place (MMaP) at Memorial University (www.mun.ca/music/mmap/). The MMaP Centre was officially constituted in January 2003 and, after several years of operating in rather cramped quarters, it has recently moved into new facilities in the Arts and Culture Centre of St. John's. We now have, in addition to office a multimedia library, audio restoration facility, multimedia production studio with excellent video as well as audio capability, and a gallery space that we use for workshops, media training sessions, small performances, and guest lectures. The MMaP Research Centre is now viewed within the province as an interface between the university and local communities, a mobilizer of Applied Ethnomusicology projects, and a collaborator in the organization of numerous conferences, concerts and festivals. Our space, then, operates with a philosophy that differs from myspace: it is responsible to the community (with community representation on the executive board as well as a committee of regional representatives) and is prepared to serve their interests wherever possible. Reaching Out A major initiative that ties directly to the research program described below has been to enable better public access to archival resources at Memorial University, particularly the large audio collection of MUNFLA, the Folklore and Language Archive of Memorial University. We initiated production of an archival CD series in 2004. Each CD is packaged in a DVD case to allow sufficient space for extensive print documentation (usually a booklet of approximately 50 pages). Furthermore, each CD has developed a specific theme that represents a shared concern of academics and practitioners: diverse definitions of tradition and modernity, for instance, or the nature of the Newfoundland song canon. first two releases, It's Time for Another One: Folk Songs from the South Coast of Newfoundland and Folklore of Newfoundland and Labrador: A Sampler of Songs, Narrations, and Tunes, are distributed nationally by Landwash Distribution (www. landwashdistribution.com). Three more CDs are in various stages of planning or preparation: one is a re-release of a popular local radio program, Saturday Nite Jamboree, packaged with a booklet on the history of early radio in the province; a second is a Canada-wide anthology of traditional fiddling and related instrumental practices, with an emphasis on cultural diversity and little known archival sources; the third will feature archival recordings of Atlantic Canadian Mi'kmaw song. Most of the CDs have had guest producers and several have been collaborations. The fiddle anthology, for instance, is being produced with support from Folkways Alive and the Canadian Museum of Civilization. In addition to the CD series, the MMaP Centre has developed a website with the earliest audio recordings made in Atlantic Canada. MacEdward Leach and the Songs of Atlantic Canada (www.mun.ca/folklore/ leach) was launched in 2004 with over 300 audio clips, community profiles, biographies of artists and considerable historical and contextual material. Both English and Gaelic language material is included. It was expanded and updated for a relaunch in 2006 and will shortly migrate to the Digital Archive Initiative of the Memorial University libraries. The website has served both as a source of information about songs and a key to university holdings that are of interest to Newfoundland and Labrador families. With much appreciated cooperation of MUNFLA, the MMaP Research Centre has made copies of archival recordings for family members who contact us--over four dozen to date. …

Understanding media coverage of sex: A practical discussion paper for sexologists and journalists

Although the public uses the media for sex advice, information and validation, much media coverage of sex contains inconsistent, outdated, or incorrect messages. There is little encouragement for those working in sex therapy, research, education or healthcare to engage with the media. The standard of media training and availability for these professions varies. Not all professionals work from an evidence-based perspective, and not all ‘experts’ in the media are recognised as such by their peers, resulting in inconsistent information being given to journalists by people not always qualified to speak about sex. Furthermore, a lack of training and understanding of sex and relationships results in misunderstanding or misreporting of stories by journalists, and perpetuating poor media coverage of sex. This paper outlines problems in media coverage, and highlights training opportunities and deficits for both sexologists and journalists. It advocates collaborative working, greater training in evidence-based sexology, and challenging problems in media training and sex coverage.