Analyzing media coverage of a specific topic or public health intervention is often a critical part of evaluating programmatic and policy interventions. Developing a reliable and systematic method for tracking media is the first step in conducting media analyses.
We evaluated the extent and type of newspaper coverage of alcohol-related issues in a large metropolitan area over a three-year period. The content of two major city newspapers and 12 suburban newspapers was analyzed for both quantity and type of articles covering alcohol-related issues. CD Rom versions of the city newspapers and paper copies of the suburban papers were obtained for all dates over a three-year period. We systematically evaluated all 4050 editions of the papers, identifying all articles with alcohol-related content. All alcohol-related articles were assigned one of 21 codes from six different content areas. A random number of issues were evaluated by a second reader. Inter-rater reliability Kappa coefficients ranged from 0.6 to 0.9, with most being over 0.7 indicating acceptable reliability.
We will describe a newspaper coding system used to track alcohol issues in the print media for a large metropolitan area. We will also graphically present trends of alcohol-related media coverage observed over a three-year period. Through this presentation, audience members will understand steps for setting up a media tracking system and the potential utility of such tracking systems.
Learning Objectives: We will describe a newspaper coding system used to track alcohol issues in the print media for a large metropolitan area. We will also graphically present trends of alcohol-related media coverage observed over a three-year period. Through this presentation, audience members will understand steps for setting up a media tracking system and the potential utility of such tracking systems
Keywords: Media, Data Collection
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.