Renowned population and immigration researcher William (Bill) Ryerson pioneered efforts to modify public health behavior through widely-available media programming. During Bill Ryerson’s tenure as head of the Population Media Center, the nonprofit developed a series of television and radio programs that brought issues such as family planning and women’s empowerment to the attention of a wider audience.
Mass media such as radio and television are ideal mediums for informing large groups of people about public health campaigns. Traditionally, public health information is conveyed through public service announcements, which outline information about various health concerns and methods of prevention. However, these types of messages do not always result in population-wide behavioral changes.
To make a stronger impression on viewers, many public health organizations have begun to incorporate important health messaging into entertainment programs. The entertainment-education strategy combines the engaging elements of a series with real-life public health issues to inform the audience.
The aim of this type of programming is to teach viewers how to talk about sensitive health topics and where to find support. Successful entertainment-education campaigns are generally launched in coordination with healthcare providers and contain personable characters navigating familiar scenarios.
Long-term behavioral changes are often indicated by measurable increases in viewer knowledge, health care visits, and the use of prevention strategies.
Mass media such as radio and television are ideal mediums for informing large groups of people about public health campaigns. Traditionally, public health information is conveyed through public service announcements, which outline information about various health concerns and methods of prevention. However, these types of messages do not always result in population-wide behavioral changes.
To make a stronger impression on viewers, many public health organizations have begun to incorporate important health messaging into entertainment programs. The entertainment-education strategy combines the engaging elements of a series with real-life public health issues to inform the audience.
The aim of this type of programming is to teach viewers how to talk about sensitive health topics and where to find support. Successful entertainment-education campaigns are generally launched in coordination with healthcare providers and contain personable characters navigating familiar scenarios.
Long-term behavioral changes are often indicated by measurable increases in viewer knowledge, health care visits, and the use of prevention strategies.