Abstract
The communication of determinants of health and health outcomes normally executed through academic channels often fail to
reach lay audiences. In April of 2010, the results of collaboration between academe and mass media were published in the Hamilton
Spectator, one of Canada’s 10 largest English-language daily newspapers as a 7-day series. The aim of the collaboration was
to describe the disparities in the determinants of health and health status that exists in the City of Hamilton’s neighbourhoods
in a way that could be easily comprehended by a lay audience. Simple statistics, maps of the City’s neighbourhoods, interviews
and stories were woven together to communicate these disparities. The reaction to the series was overwhelming. It spawned
a new position in the municipal government, was discussed at the Provincial and Federal levels of governments, prompted the
local university to alter plans, relocating a new health care centre to the greatest area of need as highlighted by the series,
and won several local and national awards. The objective of this manuscript is to describe all aspects of the series, including
the specific decisions made, the methods employed and the aftermath of its publication.
reach lay audiences. In April of 2010, the results of collaboration between academe and mass media were published in the Hamilton
Spectator, one of Canada’s 10 largest English-language daily newspapers as a 7-day series. The aim of the collaboration was
to describe the disparities in the determinants of health and health status that exists in the City of Hamilton’s neighbourhoods
in a way that could be easily comprehended by a lay audience. Simple statistics, maps of the City’s neighbourhoods, interviews
and stories were woven together to communicate these disparities. The reaction to the series was overwhelming. It spawned
a new position in the municipal government, was discussed at the Provincial and Federal levels of governments, prompted the
local university to alter plans, relocating a new health care centre to the greatest area of need as highlighted by the series,
and won several local and national awards. The objective of this manuscript is to describe all aspects of the series, including
the specific decisions made, the methods employed and the aftermath of its publication.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s11205-012-0068-y
- Authors
- Patrick F. DeLuca, Centre for Spatial Analysis, School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
- Steve Buist, Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford Campus, 73 George Street, Brantford, ON N3T 2Y3, Canada
- Neil Johnston, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, DTC 301, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S4L8, Canada
- Journal Social Indicators Research
- Online ISSN 1573-0921
- Print ISSN 0303-8300