New publication from our team on local TV news coverage of COVID-19-related racial disparities. This work highlights which communities and media environments were more — and less — likely to encounter reporting on racial health disparities during COVID-19. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Community Characteristics Predict Local News Agenda Building About Racial Health Disparities

We examined market-level social and demographic characteristics and station-level factors as predictors of local television news coverage of COVID-19-related racial disparities using the theoretica...

tandfonline.com

Our 2025 Year in Review is here! The COMMHSP team has wrapped up a year of impactful research, publications, and community engagement. Highlights include:

Our December COMM News is here! Catch up on the latest updates from our team, including recent publications, presentations, and a new blog post on Native American representation in the media. Read the full edition: mailchi.mp/3dee028de89f...

US adults’ awareness of actions threatening public health and science declined between March and September 2025, according to a new survey from @commhsp.bsky.social.

Public Concern about Threats to Public Health and Science Remains Modest  | Milbank Memorial Fund

In March 2025, our team conducted a public opinion survey to document the extent to which the U.S. public was aware of the rapidly emerging threats to

milbank.org

In our latest @milbankfund.bsky.social Quarterly Opinion, "Public Concern about Threats to Public Health and Science Remains Modest," COMM members @rebekahnagler.bsky.social, @efranklinfowler.bsky.social, and @sarahgollust.bsky.social reveal key findings from a new national follow-up survey.

How do local TV news broadcasts cover Native Americans and their communities? In our newest blog post, Quin Mudry-Nelson shares some topline preliminary findings from the Native American Communication Project: commhsp.org/when-does-u-...

New study by @sarahgollust.bsky.social et al. in BMC: US news frames the social safety net around individual stories and political conflict, systemic causes or health equity implications which may undermine public support for these policies.

📰 Our September newsletter is here! This edition highlights recent studies & publications that discuss how to change the public health narrative, the real-world impact of framing immigration as a "crisis," and a critical look at what federal COVID-19 vaccine communication missed and more.

What can the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine PSAs teach us about public health communication? In our newest COMM blog post, first author Margaret Tait breaks down her recently published research on the critical messaging missteps in federally-sponsored PSAs.

Thanks @jenniferngandu.bsky.social! What gives me hope is @commhsp.bsky.social's tips for communicating effectively about health disparities. It start with looking at what communities bring to the table. commhsp.org/tips-for-com... What brings you hope @joanalker1.bsky.social?

@jenniferngandu.bsky.social · last yr.

Thanks for passing me this positivity chain, @1mabl.bsky.social! What gives me hope are programs like Rx Kids that have delivered over $13M in cash support to more than 3K families. Parents say it helps them make ends meet! rxkids.org/rx-kids-part... Passing to @mona-shah.bsky.social!

@bigcitieshealth.org Just released their updated Overdose Prevention Messaging Playbook! It features new evidence-based guidance on communicating about harm reduction, backed by new public opinion research. Join their webinar on Sept. 10 to learn more. Register: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Strengthening Support for Overdose Prevention: What the Public Thinks—and How to Move Them. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about j...

What do city residents really think about overdose and related issues like homelessness and public disorder—and what actually persuades them to support a public health approach to addressing these iss...

us06web.zoom.us

Big Cities Health Coalition@bigcitieshealth.org · last yr.

NEW MESSAGING RESEARCH: Support for public health #OverdosePrevention is strong—and it could be stronger. Our new playbook delivers original polling research, message testing, & strategies you need to solidify support for solutions we already know work www.bigcitieshealth.org/overdose-pre...

This paper, led by my former PhD advisee @margarettait.bsky.social, offers important insights into the limitations of the federal PSA campaign for COVID-19 vaccination way back in 2021. I know hindsight is 20/20, but wow, there were some missed opportunities in this mass communication campaign.

Collaborative on Media & Messaging for Health and Social Policy@commhsp.bsky.social · last yr.

🔍 Did COVID-19 Vaccine PSAs Address Public Skepticism? New Publication Reveals Critical Gaps. Key findings from research by @margarettait.bsky.social & team:

🔍 Did COVID-19 Vaccine PSAs Address Public Skepticism? New Publication Reveals Critical Gaps. Key findings from research by @margarettait.bsky.social & team:

If public health is about protecting all communities, why are so many still left behind? @commhsp.bsky.social’s new report offers insights for journalists, advocates, and leaders about why and how to frame issues like #StructuralRacism and #HealthInequity to drive change. bsky.app/profile/comm...

Collaborative on Media & Messaging for Health and Social Policy@commhsp.bsky.social · last yr.

Reporting about health equity is harder than ever—but what if the framing itself is part of the problem? Our new study (linked below) reveals why journalists struggle with these stories and how to reframe them effectively. Swipe through for actionable strategies to improve health equity stories.

Reporting about health equity is harder than ever—but what if the framing itself is part of the problem? Our new study (linked below) reveals why journalists struggle with these stories and how to reframe them effectively. Swipe through for actionable strategies to improve health equity stories.

🚨 New from COMM: How can we communicate about health equity more effectively in today’s polarized world? Our latest research brief reveals key insights from public health leaders, journalists, and advocates—plus actionable strategies to drive change. 📖 Read & share: mailchi.mp/c853fe7de617...

As we reflect on Juneteenth's significance in America's racial justice journey, we're sharing key findings in our new research brief summarizing our recent publication, "Racism as a Public Health Crisis: How Declarations Shape Local TV News Attention to Racism."

As always, a joy to work with @povertyscholar.bsky.social and the rest of the @commhsp.bsky.social on this survey. You can find our data tables at: commhsp.org/april-2025-p...

Jamila Michener (@povertyscholar.bsky.social) and Sarah Gollust's (@sarahgollust.bsky.social) new opinion piece in Milbank argues that the Medicaid cuts being debated by Congress are undemocratic. Across the political spectrum, Americans support Medicaid—and they would act to protect the program.

Milbank Memorial Fund & The Milbank Quarterly@milbankfund.bsky.social · last yr.

In a new Milbank Quarterly guest Opinion, @povertyscholar.bsky.social & @sarahgollust.bsky.social share public attitudes toward Congress’s proposed Medicaid funding cuts reported in their April 2025 survey.

🌞 Summer’s here—and so is our May newsletter!

Our member Natalia de Paula Moreira (@nataliapmoreira.bsky.social) and team just published an important study on declarations of racism as a public health crisis. Key findings:

1/6. One thing I’ve often found interesting in research on perceptions of health disparities is the frequency with which the perspectives of the communities that bear the brunt of those disparities are omitted. In our latest @commhsp.bsky.social paper, we highlight what gets lost when that happens.

How can we talk about health disparities to build support for change? Our new study found that highlighting structural causes for racial differences in health—like housing segregation—rather than just describing disparity rates increases support for addressing inequality, without backlash.

Neil Lewis, Jr.@neillewisjr.bsky.social · last yr.

1/6. One thing I’ve often found interesting in research on perceptions of health disparities is the frequency with which the perspectives of the communities that bear the brunt of those disparities are omitted. In our latest @commhsp.bsky.social paper, we highlight what gets lost when that happens.

Poll: Many Americans say they’ll lose trust in public health recommendations under federal leadership changes. But despite stark divisions, several health priorities have bipartisan support. debeaumont.org/news/2025/po...

Check out this article (linked below) by COMM member Kristina Medero and co-authors @sarahgollust.bsky.social, CeRon Ford, and Hamdi Abdi on identifying and addressing imposter participants in qualitative research—offering practical recommendations to strengthen study integrity.

The latest from our @commhsp.bsky.social team’s effort to understand what is getting through—most Americans had heard at least a little about the firing of scientists and health workers. Read more in the 🧵 ⬇️

Rebekah Nagler@rebekahnagler.bsky.social · last yr.

📣To what extent is the U.S. public aware of firing of federal workers, canceling of research grants, or removal of public data that’s disrupting public health and science? Members of our team fielded a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults in late March. www.milbank.org/quarterly/op... 1/

Rebekah Nagler & collaborators reveal partisan disparities in public awareness of federal science agency threats—with Democrats more likely to know of funding cuts & firings. As layoffs grow, public engagement becomes urgent to show how cuts impact health outcomes. Article linked in original post.

Rebekah Nagler@rebekahnagler.bsky.social · last yr.

📣To what extent is the U.S. public aware of firing of federal workers, canceling of research grants, or removal of public data that’s disrupting public health and science? Members of our team fielded a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults in late March. www.milbank.org/quarterly/op... 1/

Dominant narratives shape health—reinforcing power & inequality. Our report breaks down 5 harmful narratives, from ‘American Exceptionalism’ to ‘Inherent Scarcity,’ and their role in unjust systems. Read more here: commhsp.org/dominant-nar...

New Milbank opinion piece from our COMM team members, Jamila Michener (@povertyscholar.bsky.social) and Sarah Rozenblum, on how state child tax credits can advance equity. Expanding these credits can help reduce child poverty and support families most in need—a must-read! Link in the comments.

How can local journalism better serve public health? Trust + access + collaboration = stronger stories. Key takeaways from our panel with top journalists; @joannekenen.bsky.social, @denekdryden.bsky.social, Sheila Eldred, and moderator @ninamoini.bsky.social in the blogpost linked in the comments.