Reporting Physical Activity: Perceptions and Practices of Australian Media Professionals.

Smith, BJ; Bonfiglioli, CMF

Reporting Physical Activity: Perceptions and Practices of Australian Media Professionals.

Smith, BJ Bonfiglioli, CMF

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Publisher:: HUMAN KINETICS PUBL INC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of physical activity & health, 2015, 12, (8), pp. 1096-1101
Issue Date:: 2015-08

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Smith, BJ
dc.contributor.author	Bonfiglioli, CMF
dc.date.accessioned	2021-11-25T06:25:31Z
dc.date.available	2021-11-25T06:25:31Z
dc.date.issued	2015-08
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of physical activity & health, 2015, 12, (8), pp. 1096-1101
dc.identifier.issn	1543-3080
dc.identifier.issn	1543-5474
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151838
dc.description.abstract	<h4>Background</h4>Advocacy informed by scientific evidence is necessary to influence policy and planning to address physical inactivity. The mass media is a key arena for this advocacy. This study investigated the perceptions and practices of news media professionals reporting physical activity and sedentariness to inform strategic communication about these issues.<h4>Methods</h4>We interviewed media professionals working for major television, radio, newspaper and online news outlets in Australia. The interviews explored understandings of physical activity and sedentariness, attributions of causality, assignment of responsibility, and factors affecting news reporting on these topics. Data were thematically analyzed using NVivo.<h4>Results</h4>Physical inactivity was recognized as pervasive and important, but tended to be seen as mundane and not newsworthy. Sedentariness was regarded as more novel than physical activity, and more likely to require organizational and environment action. Respondents identified that presenting these issues in visual and engaging ways was an ongoing challenge.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Physical activity researchers and advocates need to take account of prevailing news values and media practices to improve engagement with the news media. These include understanding the importance of novelty, narratives, imagery, and practical messages, and how to use these to build support for environmental and policy action.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	HUMAN KINETICS PUBL INC
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of physical activity & health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1123/jpah.2014-0218
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 1117 Public Health and Health Services, 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy
dc.subject.classification	Public Health
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Motor Activity
dc.subject.mesh	Perception
dc.subject.mesh	Environment
dc.subject.mesh	Television
dc.subject.mesh	Journalism
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Newspapers as Topic
dc.subject.mesh	Sedentary Behavior
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Environment
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Journalism
dc.subject.mesh	Motor Activity
dc.subject.mesh	Newspapers as Topic
dc.subject.mesh	Perception
dc.subject.mesh	Sedentary Behavior
dc.subject.mesh	Television
dc.title	Reporting Physical Activity: Perceptions and Practices of Australian Media Professionals.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	12
utslib.location.activity	United States
utslib.for	1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy
utslib.for	2001 Communication and Media Studies
utslib.for	1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
utslib.for	1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/Journalism Program
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2021-11-25T06:25:30Z
pubs.issue	8
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	12
utslib.citation.issue	8

Abstract:

Background

Advocacy informed by scientific evidence is necessary to influence policy and planning to address physical inactivity. The mass media is a key arena for this advocacy. This study investigated the perceptions and practices of news media professionals reporting physical activity and sedentariness to inform strategic communication about these issues.

Methods

We interviewed media professionals working for major television, radio, newspaper and online news outlets in Australia. The interviews explored understandings of physical activity and sedentariness, attributions of causality, assignment of responsibility, and factors affecting news reporting on these topics. Data were thematically analyzed using NVivo.

Results

Physical inactivity was recognized as pervasive and important, but tended to be seen as mundane and not newsworthy. Sedentariness was regarded as more novel than physical activity, and more likely to require organizational and environment action. Respondents identified that presenting these issues in visual and engaging ways was an ongoing challenge.

Conclusions

Physical activity researchers and advocates need to take account of prevailing news values and media practices to improve engagement with the news media. These include understanding the importance of novelty, narratives, imagery, and practical messages, and how to use these to build support for environmental and policy action.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151838