Media Analysis Report: Nutrition and Health Issues in the Media

In Bangladesh, the Management Resources and Development Initiative (MRDI) conducted baseline media monitoring from January to June 2012 to assess how nutrition and health issues, specific to maternal, child, and adolescent health and nutrition across the life cycle, were reported in the media. The results of the baseline media monitoring and meetings with the media were used to design interventions with the media to improve nutrition reporting. The objectives of the media analysis were to track the amount, type, content, focus, placement/treatment, and clarity/readability of nutrition and health-related coverage during the time period of February 15, 2013, to October 15, 2013, and to compare the results with the baseline media analysis conducted during the time period of January 15, 2012, to June 15, 2012. The methodology involved analyzing the findings of a follow-up survey of nutrition and health-related news in newspapers and on prime time television broadcasts. The survey monitored 10 national and 2 local daily newspapers and 4 national-level television channels during the specified time period. The indicators for analyzing health and nutrition-related news contents were developed after careful consideration of relevant trends and ethical concerns. The definitions of news types, including event-based straight reports, follow-up reports, in-depth reports, and features, were also established. Data management and analysis involved coding newspaper and television reports on nutrition and health for various parameters, including the number of articles and news segments, type of article and news segment, special treatment given to articles and news segments, geographic focus of articles and news segments, placement of articles in newspapers and of news segments in prime time broadcasts, issues covered in articles and in news segments, clarity of articles and news segments, and readability of articles. The results of the media analysis will be used to determine further steps required to improve and increase nutrition and health reporting among media in Bangladesh. The analysis will provide insights into the current state of nutrition and health reporting in the media and identify areas for improvement. The media analysis involved monitoring 10 national and 2 local daily newspapers, including Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, Samakal, Ittefaq, Naya Diganta, Janakantha, The Independent, Jugantor, Kaler Kantho, and New Age, as well as 4 national-level television channels, including BTV, ATN Bangla, NTV, and Channel i. The analysis covered various aspects of nutrition and health reporting, including the number of articles and news segments, type of article and news segment, special treatment given to articles and news segments, geographic focus of articles and news segments, placement of articles in newspapers and of news segments in prime time broadcasts, issues covered in articles and in news segments, clarity of articles and news segments, and readability of articles. The results of the media analysis will provide valuable insights into the current state of nutrition and health reporting in the media and identify areas for improvement. The analysis will also inform the development of strategies to improve nutrition and health reporting among media in Bangladesh.