Changing the media diet - Investigating the power of the news media to prevent obesity

Funding: 2010: $80,000
2011: $80,000
2012: $95,000

Project Member(s): Bonfiglioli, C.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC Discovery Projects)

Start year: 2010

Summary: This project investigates the news media s role in Australia s response to the epidemic of obesity and inactivity. The mass media are recognised as a key factor in promoting health but the role of newsmakers, news reports and news audiences in the prevention of obesity is poorly understood. This project will be the first to generate evidence from the whole media life cycle: journalists professional practice, news messages and media debates about causes of and solutions to obesity, and public understandings. This evidence will drive novel health promoting interventions for health professionals, news professionals, the news media and the public.

Publications:

Smith, BJ & Bonfiglioli, C 2019, 'Audience Responses to Physical Activity inthe Biggest Loser Australia', Journal of Health Communication, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 21-28.
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Bonfiglioli, C & Cullen, T 2017, 'Health journalism – evolution and innovation in the digital age', Australian Journalism Review, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 13-22.

Chau, JY, Bonfiglioli, C, Zhong, A, Pedisic, Z, Daley, M, McGill, B & Bauman, A 2017, 'Sitting ducks face chronic disease: an analysis of newspaper coverage of sedentary behaviour as a health issue in Australia 2000–2012', Health Promotion Journal of Australia, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 139-143.
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Bonfiglioli, C 2015, 'Values and Choices in Television Discourse' in Piazza, R, Haarman, L & Caborn, A (eds), Values and Choices in Television Discourse: A View from Both Sides of the Screen, Palgrave Macmillan UK, London, pp. 87-108.
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Smith, BJ & Bonfiglioli, CMF 2015, 'Physical activity in the mass media: an audience perspective', Health Education Research, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 359-369.
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Keywords: Prevention; Physical Activity; Obesity; Media Analysis; Health Promotion; Nutrition;

FOR Codes: Aged Health Care, Communication Studies, Preventive Medicine, The Media, Health Education and Promotion, Preventive medicine

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.