My project is designed to be distributed in a folder at a school board meeting. Each attendee will receive a folder consisting of: the new lunch menu, an example of a parental pamphlet that will be dispersed each month with the lunch menu to parents at home and a new health curriculum for the classrooms.
One of the obstacles facing childhood obesity is the foods choices at school. The new lunch menu serves as a lifestyle change for what should be served in the schools. Healthier options while still appealing to kids. The removal of competitive food items will also take place to prevent the continuance of unhealthy choices.
Another obstacle facing childhood obesity is the education of adequate nutrition and physical activity. By implementing a new classroom curriculum we are educating the children at a young age. Prevention is a key factor. It is easier to prevent then to solve a problem after it occurs but that doesn’t mean problems can’t be solved. Problems are only more challenging. We also want to create an equal playing level were bullying will not be tolerated. Along with nutrition, activity and health tip education a respect for peers will be a focus too. Parents are a huge influence on their children and their involvement is crucial. My educating them with the monthly pamphlets on where to find more information, how to handle parental pressures, how to implement a healthy lifestyle we are aiding them to received the same education as their children.
The current health lesson plans in today’s classroom of the food pyramid is not cutting it. They need a more in depth and hands on activities to really help the significance of adequate nutrition and exercise habits to become a habit and not a chore. The goal here is to bring the family together where they are all receiving the information in a way that pertains to them. This even had potential to help bring the family together because they are sharing new found hobby or inspirational topic to discuss.
There is potential for a revised fitness program and hope to have a better idea on how to present that after tomorrow’s class meeting.
I haven’t completely decided how I will develop my project completely. Depending on the style I choose will determine the images most useful to my project. The first image that I like demonstrates the childhood obesity cycleinto adulthood. It illustrates exactly what I explained in my issue analysis. Prevention is the key to reduce childhood obesity. The cycle depicts what will occur if it is not prevented.
The second image I found depicts the current issue in the school gym classes. Overweight children are unable to participate in the activities assigned leaving them with even less exercise. They are left to sit and watch while their fellow classmates tease them. Leading to long-term psychological damages that will follow them into adulthood.
One of the biggest problems is the lack luster nutrition and lack of energy in children who are overweight. This image depicts a child who has “crashed” in front of the television after eating sugary sweets and salty snacks. This image is exactly what we need to change.
One last image I could use for my section discussing inadequate playgrounds in urban communities displays broken seesaws. No wonder children have no place to play. However, until I know exactly what my project will be…I can’t determine for sure what images will visually communicate the best!
After watching, Al Gore’s documentary on global warming entitled “An Inconvenient Truth”, as assignment I was very enlightened. I didn’t really think too much about the title at first. Then towards the end, it just came to me that this subject really is “An Inconvenient Truth.” Gore constructs his authority by discussing his background, knowledge and research of the subject and his education. He also supports his authority by discussing the creditability of his professor and mentor. Viewers can feel confident in the intellect of the sources of information on global warming.
Gore appeals to the emotions, logic and ethics of the viewers by continually reminding the viewers that he is not just a lecturer on the subject. He does this by personalizing himself; this reminds the viewers he is a regular family man like most others. This helps viewers to respect him more and trust his word more than if he were just someone lecturing on the topic. He does this by “flashing back” and self narrating while the pictures and storyline is shown. Gore also puts all of the facts on global warming out there in the simplest form. He does a great job of ensuring every viewer of any level can understand what he is trying to convey. He also anticipates questions and criticisms once he explains something he then elaborates more thoroughly and backs it up with statistical support and facts; leaving little room for doubt.
Gore uses humor when he is trying to relay the skeptics thought process. This is how he tries to convince the viewers that it is observed to be a skeptic. He is lying out the facts and it is so impossible to not see the issue it is almost “funny” that someone can’t grasp the urgency of the topic. It is a very influential tactic. To paraphrase, my favorite point is that it is difficult to get someone to understand something when their salary depends on them not understanding it. The use of humor also helps break up the monotony of a lecture style.
Gore’s documentary is more effective than just another lecture because it enables him to appeal to his audience’s emotions more effectively. Lecturers can get boring, the documentary style allow him to personalize himself with the audience, helping him to avoid the technical approach. The use of cartoons helps make this film educational for all ages. He has simplified the science so well a younger generation can understand his explanations but while simultaneously keeping it appealing to adults at the same time; a difficult task when considering your audience.
Gore’s explanations and data construct the correlation with CO2 and temperatures making it very difficult for a skeptic to discredit global warming. I also think Gore’s comparison of removing slavery and providing rights to women as a moral right made a strong argument that global warming is not just an environmental problem it is moral problem. I did reach a point when I thought to myself, “Point made, I get it but what are the solutions already?” Although he mentions some ways to help I don’t feel he constructed enough of a true effective plan solution that needs to be implemented. I still felt I was left asking, “Well what do we do?” (“We,” being the world, our government.) I understand I can participate in eco friendly behaviors but what else can do bigger?
Overall Gore’s film was an incredible example of risk communication. I found his tactics to be very persuasive. It puts my childhood obesity topic into perspective on how to effectively communicate risk.
I found the piece from DISASTER HURRICANE KATRINA AND THE FAILURE OF HOMELAND SECURITY very easy to read and interesting. I do not know the details surrounding the failure of homeland security other then the fact that it was all over the news and it happened. This chapter really gave me insight on what actually occurred. This piece is very well written simply because not once did I doubt anything he said; whether some of the print actually happened or not I cannot say. I was not there however, I found myself hanging on every word and taking it as fact. How will I be able to gain that kind of creditability in my writing? It has made me well aware of the ability for story style writing to reach your audience. It has also made me aware of my weakness; the ability to be easily influenced. In my opinion in order to succeed at your endeavors you must be just as aware of your weaknesses as your strengths. This thus far was my favorite piece we have read for class.
This chapter outlined the preceding and subsequent behaviors that took place surrounding hurricane Katrina. I was amazed at the detrimental effects that can occur when someone else thinks someone else will take care of it, “I did my part, now it’s your turn.” There was no follow up or sense of urgency. My topic childhood obesity is at risk for being overlooked because my audience may feel they aren’t directly responsible for the childhood obesity epidemic therefore, they won’t do anything to work towards solutions.
We learned about a famous murder case in a few of my psychology classes. The victim was Kitty Genovese. To the best of my recollection none of her neighbors called the police when they heard her screaming because they all thought someone else had already called or would call, also known as the “bystander effect.”
When dealing with risk communication it is important to avoid the bystander effect. We should all assume no one is doing anything. That way everyone is doing something and we may have success!
Judith Welsh, a journalist, wrote a book on How to Write a Powerful Press Release. I have taken an introduction to journalism class in the past. Not because I see myself as a journalist, but it was a class that went towards my writing for the professions certificate; a suggestion my career counselor had made for me when we discussed my future potential careers. I can see myself doing so many different things I am not really sure where to start however these writing classes have and will help strengthen my skills.
Our next class project requires me to write a press release on childhood obesity. There are several reasons for a press release, however in my opinion only a few apply to my topic:
1) To promote products- One company I am involved with in my career is called Fulltank Foods. It is organic food products for kids. They are infused with vegetables. The goal is to get children who won’t eat their vegetables to eat them without knowing it. The company has not gone “big” yet. They are currently on the shelves of whole foods on the west coast and doing well. We are slowly transitioning into other grocery markets across the country, slowly because we cannot take on more business yet then what we are prepared to handle. I believe this is great products and a much healthier options then some other appealing kid friendly items. This is great product during the time when we are trying to become a health knowledgeable nation.
2) To inform the public-. There are many risks involved with childhood obesity. With this press release it will probably be designed as a “shorter” version on my fact sheet; attempting to make my audience aware of the future risks if childhood obesity is not prevented. Yet, when I am trying to make my audience understand the risk I need to appeal to their interests, their concerns, the entire point of journalism is not inform but make it appealing and readable. For example overweight children are more likely to become overweight adults. Overweight adults cost companies a lot of money because of insurance costs and high absenteeism.
3) Another similar concept is to educate or announce an event to the public. One way I can do this besides just “reading the facts” would be to alert them of an upcoming event where they can learn healthy cooking on a budget workshop at local school home economics room. Where parents can learn how to save money shopping and prepare “quick” meals. OR one concern with childhood obesity is the summer weight gains. I can educate what and how to get your kids interested in activities in the summer; announcing a new summer program that is free or reduced rate to qualifying low incomes. The medium I would use to get these press releases out would depend on my audiences. One being presented to lower to middle class would be in the paper, school newspapers, radios ads(but realistically these are expensive and not likely for these kinds of events), bus stops. While others may be designed for working professionals would be on line
My biggest challenge will be to not use verbs. Considering that the verbage has been (see its almost impossible not to use!) my struggle in the past and I foresee it being my struggle this time.
Chapter 10 of Having Your Say Reading and Writing Public Arguments discusses “Exploring and Constructing a Problem.” One way to explore the problem is to use a clash statement. The chapter explains a clash as a problem between what you want and what you have; it demonstrates your frustration, conflict or obstacle. One way to write clash statement is to use the “A BUT B statement.” For example if you describe your goal, but then describe its obstacle you have successfully created an “A BUT B statement.” The three styles discussed are: goal vs. obstacle, value vs value and expectation vs. observation. I have drafted a few statements on my topic of childhood obesity. I learned that simply by drafting several statements I was more aware of where my research needs focus.
A) Children need to become more physically active to help reduce weight gain, but
B) the school physical education classes are not providing enough physical activity.
____________________________________________________________________
A) School lunch programs need to remove competitive foods and offer healthier options, however
B) budget constraints can deter these improvements from occurring.
_____________________________________________________________________
A) Some parents set a good example of healthy exercise and eating habits, but
B) other parents aren’t very concerned with their unhealthy examples.
“Risk Communication, the West Nile Virus Epidemic, and Bioterrorism: Responding to the Communication Challenges Posed by the Intentional or Unintentional Release of a Pathogen in an Urban Setting” was assigned as a reading in my writing for the public class. My initial reaction to the West Nile Risk Communication was, “What could they possible point out that was handled incorrectly?” As a new risk communicator I thought they covered all their bases. They assigned a creditable agent, the New York City of Health.” They had objective outreach plans in place for action. They seemed to have all of the channels of communication in place considering their audience, predicting what the audience concerns would be and they were prepared to handle those concerns.
However, the next article section went on to critique the response plan. I found it very enlightening. It pointed out many items they didn’t consider: stakeholders risk perception factors, the risk perceptions of the expanded stakeholders i.e. wildlife experts and environmental groups. Their information was written above the recommended reading skill level. The information was too complex, it should have been written with more repetition and charts. The focus on the solution to spray pesticides and cancel public events lead the attention on the negatives causing more anxiety instead of “balancing” it with a more positive focus. Seeing this in print should help me in my risk communication on childhood obesity.
I find the section on bioterrorism risk very disturbing. Knowing that even the most well thought out plan on communication bioterrorism risk there are not possibly enough solutions to please everyone. There will be an issue in every aspect. However, as the article points out that doesn’t mean we should let a challenge like this stop us from attempting to have the best risk communication plan. The perceptions of the audience and stakeholders will be astronomical. I don’t think there is anyway to avoid dread, uncontrollability, inability to understand, moral violations etc. In short, I don’t know how to respond to this section. I found it very upsetting and threatening because it made me think about things that may be impossible to prevent or help once they have occurred. Now consider, that was my perception reading an article about communicating the risk. I can only imagine an actual risk being communicated to me. I did however; find it worthwhile because it made me realize how truly difficult risk communication can be.
After reading “Constraints to Effective Risk Communication” I am well aware of the limitations I will face when writing about the risks of Childhood Obesity. Being aware of these constraints will help me to not just communicate but to communicate effectively. For example, when addressing some of the causes of childhood obesity, parents’ involvement or lack of is a contributing factor. However, I will not be communicating effectively if I critique parenting skills. My constraints are as follows:
(1) I need to be aware of “inadequate resources”. At this stage in my research I need to know more about that even though we are all aware of the childhood obesity epidemic; “Why isn’t everyone body that can be involved working to solve this problem?” I believe its budgeting constraints and time. However I need more actual evidence on these matters.
(2) I also have to keep in mind that even when I make my argument I may not get the support from the powers needed to implement my solutions. Therefore I need consider what I need to do to get that support.
(3) Dichotomized roles will influence and change my audience or stakeholders because the audience itself expects certain courses of action from particular roles. If my risk communication doesn’t match that. It will appear chaotic but if I identify the roles of each party involved it will help clarify.
(4) Getting approval for my solutions will be a road block. Everyone is pressed for time and their current tasks and responsibilities are just as much if not more important in their opinion. I have to express the urgency of this matter to ensure it doesn’t end up at the bottom of a paperwork stack. I also need to keep it clear, concise and as minimal steps as possible to streamline the process. The easier it is to communicate the risk and fix the risk the more likely it will actually be resolved.
(5) I need to be willing to compromise when making decisions on information released and try to satisfy all parties involved while maintaining some ethical principles. At this time I do not foresee any issue with my topic here.
(6) I should not let my emotions and personal interest on childhood obesity cloud my professionalism and task at hand to “communicate the risk.”
(7) I need the public’s support to eliminate the risk. Therefore, I should treat them as an equal partner on the subject. In order to be effective I have to consider my audiences, concerns, values, beliefs and constraints. I cannot simply argue I am right because…. This will not be effective.
(8) I may need to present information in a different manner than I would like in order to explain it effectively to an audience member that may not know as much as I do. That doesn’t mean that someone who doesn’t understand nutrition cannot understand it. I need to explain nutrition to them in a style that is comprehendible.
The audience constraints I will consider with my topic: the possibility of risk denial, outrage if the solutions are a hassle or expensive. Some may feel indifferent and that I is out of their control therefore why should they care. I know stigma will be a constraint on childhood obesity. These children are unfortunately already stigmatized. This may be my biggest balancing challenge because I have already needed to present the importance of this “RISK” to make it relevant. Yet, the solution to relieve the stigma is to minimize the risk….a conundrum.
According to this chapter ethical issues are a concern in communicating risk. Understanding what the potential ethical issues are can help us make better decisions when informing the public of their risk. Questions risk communicators may face are: How much information should I release? Who should I release it to? The chapter introduces that the reason ethical decisions are so different are because we each have our own “ethical code.” That is because we each had a different upbringing or had different experiences that shaped our values and morals.
Words like morals, beliefs, values and ethics tend to be interchanged for each other. It is difficult to define each one without using the other in the definition. However, I have attempted to clarify these definitions:
Values: Something you hold in the highest regard in particular to your “group.” Your group can be your family, your culture (American etc.), religious affiliation, work association (culture) and so on. This alone can create a conflict because we can be members of multiple groups. Forcing us to choose what we hold in highest regard when these different groups clash.
Morals: the practice of “right” or “good” conduct.
Ethics: With assistance from the chapter we can define ethics as a balance of regulations, honesty, confidentiality and fairness. The keyword here is “balance.” When trying to balance something there will be a conflict. So we could also define ethics as a conflict between the communicator, the corporations and the man; in the end though I feel that ethics are decisions made for the majority “common good.”
Risk communicators face decisions like: When should we involve the public? What are the advantages or disadvantages with the stage we seek involvement?
I will face these decisions when communicating the risk of childhood obesity. Some of the culprits behind childhood obesity may not like to get the finger pointed at them. However, pointing the finger helps to target the problem to find the solution. However, I have to be careful not to offend anyone because I will need the support of parents, children, educators and government to make the solutions work.
My boss of five years has always told me, “Katie, perception is reality.” This chapter also talks about that. I know that even if I am trying to communicate something one way it may be perceived or interpreted by another in a different manner. Therefore, I need to consider this to ensure my message is clear.
A personal note on my morals:
My father always told me we are only as good as our word. I try to live by that. If I say something I need to be able to back it up and support it to be creditable. If I say something and don’t follow through my word won’t be worth much. However, my word is worth a lot and I need others to hear it.
“Introduction: Examining the Blog-Media Relationship” by Mark Tremayne discussed the ability of online journal comments to travel via the web to very distant places and many different people very quickly. A simple comment made on a personal online journal can draw media attention as it did in the case of the boy here. Tremayne discussed that because blogging has become so popular it is likely for information to spread like wildfire but previously the young boy’s journal entries would have remained more private and intimate for family and friends. This makes me very aware of the importance my postings for childhood obesity on my blog. If it is out on the internet it can be easily accessed my any audience. I have to ensure I don’t make any false statements, I credit all of my sources and that I am prepared to defend and respond to others comments and critics.
Tremayne points out the importance of our creditability as bloggers because we aren’t “supported” the same way traditional media has been. However, blogging seems to be taking on a new kind of respect because blogging can be a collaboration of many minds, many sources it can be a very creditable source of information. I would like my childhood obesity blog to take on that kind of creditability and usefulness. My blog can be the place where my audience will obtain information that they haven’t already been bored with on the news. It can be interactive and therefore more useful and personal.
According to S.Shyam Sundar, Heidi Hatfield Edwards, Yifeng Hu and Carmen Stavrositu’s article, “Blogging for Public Health: Putting the ‘Public’ back in Public Health,” some of the reasons we write personal journal blogs are for: connection, coping, and to construct identity. I agree with all of those reasons. Although my blog is more of an educational or factual blog and not much as a therapy session it would be interesting if somehow it could be both.
According to Tremayne, the media typically focuses on political blogs. I found Tremayne’s description of “the blogsphere as a network” very educational. I have learned more about blogs in the past few weeks then I have ever known. I previously would have described blogs as a page location on the web where some strongly opinionated person would try to shove their theories down your throat. The author points out the usefulness of blogs and why they are needed in addition to typical media: (1) readers can visit one site for all of the “unique facet” stories and links on they can’t get at work or from the media and (2) there is an opportunity to see comments and give yours. Most people who believe in something want the opportunity to persuade others to see it their way and blogging allows that.
My favorite point Tremayne makes is the threat to mass media and media’s efforts to “if you can’t beat them join them” in responding to the new blogging hype. In my opinion media today has become another reality show trying to entertain and get the ratings; if you want some real debates or information that is uncensored by the political influences of the press stick to blogging. Where your audience is given an opportunity to comment and offer further insight on the topic. This will be very helpful for my blog on childhoodhood obesity. I want to ensure my audience is reached with the appropriate points therefore some parental opinions may help me to understand what their concerns are more than a pediatric journal can!
