Berkeley Media Studies Group

09/01/2026

September is National Su***de Prevention Month. The way media outlets report on mental health, su***de, and su***de prevention matters. Best reporting practices can help discourage contagion and encourage people to seek support. Su***de Awareness Voices of Education has guidance for reporters: https://vist.ly/5gwe7

08/28/2026

While BMSG staff live all over the country, we do prioritize in-person time together every chance we get! Several of our California-based staff were able to grab lunch together last week. We are so grateful that our hardworking staff get time to unwind!

08/27/2026

Describing complicated issues and their solutions in a way that the public and policymakers can understand, without being too comprehensive or too easy to misconstrue, presents a challenge for public health practitioners and researchers. How do you talk about vaccination, harm reduction, or housing as a human right in a hostile political climate? In a newly released perspective for Health Affairs, BMSG’s leadership team addresses this dilemma while offering guidance for public health practitioners. Read the full article here: https://vist.ly/5gdbv

08/25/2026

Incomplete media coverage leaves young people feeling unseen and unfairly portrayed, diminishing trust in the media. For example, past BMSG research has found that youth seldom appear in the news, and often only in connection to violence. A new analysis from Report for Youth Justice provides guidance for journalists to address the concerns of young people.

Read the analysis here: https://vist.ly/5g4v7

08/24/2026

The September issue of Health Affairs will include a paper authored by BMSG’s own leadership team. “What can you say when you can't say everything?” explores effective public health communication in today’s media and policy climate. Interested in learning how to talk about challenging public health topics? Stay tuned!

08/17/2026

BMSG's training team recently provided a message development training for the UCSF Reach program at the UCSF Environmental Research and Translation for Health Center, which empowers participants to promote science-based health policies in California. Through Reach, participants from a variety of backgrounds, including activists and healthcare professionals, build the skills needed to converse with policymakers to promote lasting change at the state level. BMSG is honored to elevate such important work!

08/14/2026

BMSG’s own Charles Udeze was recently featured on an episode of the Brothers in Public Health Inc. podcast. We are inspired by Charles’ resilience and his dedication to furthering health equity both inside and outside of the workplace! You can find the episode on the following platforms:

- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTG15Vz9NQU

- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-my-name-taught-me-about-public-health-and-perseverance/id6788017172?i=1000782013381

- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7h2eCj3dTfddUlJvZbsJZ2

Brothers in Public Health Podcast · Episode

08/11/2026

The closer we get to the primaries, the more we hear about affordability. Politicians and public health practitioners both use this term, and journalists routinely echo it in their reporting. Headlines tell us that food affordability is a "defining challenge" in the U.S., that housing affordability remains out of reach, and that Democrats have gaps in their "affordability agenda."

According to Julie Sweetland, a sociolinguist at FrameWorks Institute, this abstract term may be undermining efforts to change policy. Learn more about why "affordability" is problematic and what we can say instead: https://vist.ly/5eeet

08/10/2026

International Overdose Prevention Day is approaching, and the way journalists talk about substance use, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery matters. That’s why we appreciate Covering Drugs, a resource to help journalists improve their coverage. Developed by Susan Stellin, a former fellow with Reynolds Journalism Institute , the guide includes surveys, data, and other resources to strengthen reporting. Access the guide here: https://vist.ly/5eam7

08/07/2026

As agencies work together to prevent overdoses and save lives, strategic communication can amplify the work that is being done and provide a framework for supporting diverse communities as well as addressing pushback. As International Overdose Awareness Day approaches, check out this page of communication resources our partners at the National Overdose Prevention Network have created, including messaging guidance from BMSG.

Access the resources here:

MESSAGING TOOLS & RESOURCESCommunicate more effectively, reach your audience, and gain support for your work Get Started | Messaging in Action | Know Your Audience | Go Deeper Build your messaging strategy step-by-stepUse the Messaging Tool along with the Messaging Guide (below) and craft strategic....