It is important for healthcare workers to understand how health news is reported. Social media provides ways to understand who makes and shares health stories, the potential audience, and the stories themselves. Back in January 2017 Prof Chris Oliver and I prepared a research paper on this topic which we submitted to two international medical journals in February and March 2017. It was not accepted for publication – perhaps it was too early for this important topic.
I came across the paper again recently when working through files as I prepare to move job (February 2019). The timing of this analysis – just at the point that Trump acquired the keys to the White House, and just when Chris and I were trying to work out what social network analysis reports could tell us – makes this a potentially important piece of work, so Chris and I have decided to share the paper in a way made possible by social media – a blog. Download the full paper here.
#ScotPublicHealth 