Berkeley Media Studies Group

06/03/2026

We often think about misinformation as something people intentionally spread. Recent research highlights a more complicated reality: Government agencies and health organizations may be inadvertently funding misinformation sites through routine digital advertising.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, estimates that 1 in 10 health advertising dollars went to websites flagged for spreading misinformation between 2021–2024.

For public health communicators and advocates, it’s a reminder that where messages appear can matter as much as the messages themselves.

Read the full article here:

Advertising on health misinformation websites reached $336.4 million, with $35.7 million from public health entities, threatening credibility in health info.

06/02/2026

Recent funding cuts to SNAP have been the biggest in history. When coupled with policy changes surrounding work requirements, citizenship status, and costs being shifted to states, they have resulted in millions of people no longer being eligible for this crucial buffer against hunger. In this challenging policy landscape, advocates have the opportunity to reframe the narrative around SNAP, showing how the program’s benefits have positive ripple effects for entire communities, not just individual participants.

For guidance on SNAP messaging, check out this resource from BMSG’s archives: https://vist.ly/56czc

06/01/2026

$1 trillion in Medicaid cuts. 15 million people losing coverage. 51,000 preventable deaths every year. These numbers are sobering. But if attacks on public health are framed only as political conflict, we miss what they mean for people’s abilities to be healthy and care for one another.

That’s why we’re lifting up Seven Days in June, a grassroots effort that advances a broader frame: Protecting health is a core governing responsibility. It requires accountable institutions, public investment, and democratic systems that respond to people’s needs.

June 1-7. sevendaysinjune.org

05/29/2026

Massive wealth and inequity can be difficult to envision. This website visualizes the disparities between billionaires and the rest of the world using social math. Enter your income to see how your spending power compares to that of Elon Musk and people living in poverty. https://vist.ly/55xgs

In 2021, Elon Musks's net worth grew by an estimated $121 billion. See how you stack up.

05/28/2026

When basic rights are under fire, hope can be a bold form of resistance. In our latest blog, BMSG’s Co-Director Kathi Schaff draws inspiration from May Day as she envisions a world that has achieved equity in all matters — and how we might get there, together. Read the full blog here: http://bit.ly/4dCGrZz

05/26/2026

As public health institutions work towards achieving health equity, opposition can be discouraging; yet, as Blue Shield of California Foundation Natalia Ibañez puts it, we cannot lose sight of our ‘north star.’

“Naming this moment matters, but it does not have to be where the story ends,” says Ibañez, “In moments like this, public health must hold a clear north star: a system that is trusted, equitable, and effective, one that is structurally designed with partnerships and power-sharing to ensure community defined needs are at the center of the work.”

BMSG is honored to be part of such partnerships and efforts to show how establishing equity roles in local health departments has led to more responsive public health approaches and improved communities’ access to core services.

Read the full blog here: https://vist.ly/55iqw

05/22/2026

What would the world look like if we achieved racial and health equity? Perhaps an equitable world would include good schools, jobs that pay enough to live, and people would be left with enough time in their days to enjoy life beyond work. Maybe life would be more about joy, and less about anxiety over the ability to afford life. In our latest blog, BMSG Co-Director Katherine Schaff explores that question and the role of collective action in getting to a future where people not only survive, but thrive.

Read the full blog here: http://bit.ly/4dCGrZz

05/21/2026

We applaud and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation for calling on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Roblox, a popular children’s gaming platform, for deceptive marketing and design that puts young users at risk. Both groups have brought public attention to these concerns, leveraging media coverage from CBS, Reuters, and other national outlets to build pressure and demand tech platforms be held accountable for the harm they cause children. Roblox leaves children as young as 5 vulnerable to predators under the guise of misleading safety claims.

The wildly popular online gaming platform puts kids at risk and exploits them for profit by:

- Keeping them online
- Getting them to spend money
- Exposing them to harmful content & predators
- Subjecting Black & LGBTQ+ youth to disproportionate harms

Learn more: bit.ly/robloxharmskids

05/20/2026

Are you trying to reach diverse audiences with trustworthy information about public health? After conducting a series of interviews regarding people’s experiences seeking public health information, the Public Health Communications Collaborative and the Harvard Opinion Research Program created this resource for improving communication:

In partnership with the Harvard Opinion Research Program, the Public Health Communications Collaborative conducted in-depth interviews with about two dozen

05/19/2026

Check out the latest actionable narrative research on how to speak to audiences across the
political spectrum on core issues.

In the recently published magazine “Rising Narratives for Radical Futures,” our partner
RadComm and The Rising Majority share evidence-based strategies for
telling stories that reach audiences beyond our already engaged base.

Use this toolkit to craft messaging and partner with people who can reach across worldviews and values to help expand our circle of belonging. https://vist.ly/54rxh

RadComms will also be hosting a webinar presenting this new resource on Thursday, May 21 from 1-2:30pm ET. Register here: https://vist.ly/54rxe