Mary Tucker-McLaughlin

Approximately 17% of military service members are obese. Research involving army soldiers suggests a lack of awareness of healthy foods on post. Innovative approaches are needed to change interactions with the military food environment. Two complementary technological methods to raise awareness are geofencing (deliver banner ads with website links) and Bluetooth beacons (real-time geotargeted messages to mobile phones that enter a designated space). There is little published literature regarding the feasibility of this approach to promote healthy behaviors in retail food environments. Thus, we conducted a formative feasibility study of a military post to understand the development, interest in, and implementation of EatWellNow, a multi-layered interactive food environment approach using contextual messaging to improve food purchasing decisions within the military food environment. We measured success based on outcomes of a formative evaluation, including process, resources, management, and scientific assessment. We also report data on interest in the approach from a Fort Bragg community health assessment survey (n = 3281). Most respondents agreed that they were interested in receiving push notifications on their phone about healthy options on post (64.5%) and that receiving these messages would help them eat healthier (68.3%). EatWellNow was successfully developed through cross-sector collaboration and was well received in this military environment, suggesting feasibility in this setting. Future work should examine the impact of EatWellNow on military service food purchases and dietary behaviors.

Despite a large number of evidence-based health communication interventions tested in private, public, and community health settings, there is a dearth of research on successful secondary dissemination of these interventions to other audiences. This article presents the case study of “1-2-3 Pap,” a health communication intervention to improve human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake and Pap testing outcomes in Eastern Kentucky, and explores strategies used to disseminate this intervention to other populations in Kentucky, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Through this dissemination project, we identified several health communication intervention design considerations that facilitated our successful dissemination to these other audiences; these intervention design considerations include (a) developing strategies for reaching other potential audiences, (b) identifying intervention message adaptations that might be needed, and (c) determining the most appropriate means or channels by which to reach these potential future audiences. Using “1-2-3 Pap” as an illustrative case study, we describe how careful planning and partnership development early in the intervention development process can improve the potential success of enhancing the reach and effectiveness of an intervention to other audiences beyond the audience for whom the intervention messages were originally designed.

In journalism, writing concisely is fundamental. Multimedia journalism demands even more writing precision. . . . In this quasi-experimental study ( n = 113), we tested the effects of the paramedic method (PM) of writing instruction on multimedia writing students completing a broadcast-style news writing assignment. We hypothesized a reduction in word count and an increase in writing quality. Word counts decreased significantly. While the quality of writing did not significantly improve with the PM samples, the overall decrease in words did not lower the quality of writing. The results indicate an overall improvement in writing efficiency with little or no effect on the quality of the writing. This study unveils a unique approach to clarifying writing that can be implemented in the multimedia classroom and by professional journalists. The study shows significant results for lowering word count and an important aspect of multimedia writing.

Grounded theory methodology is a qualitative approach that allows researchers to set aside previous research and focus only on the project at hand. The previous research is then used to help give context to the findings. It is gaining use, but is still rare, in journalism and mass communications research. Using grounded theory methodology, the authors seek to contribute to theory that addresses the representation of Hillary Clinton during her public life and trailblazing political career. News stories about Clinton broadcast on the three major TV networks—ABC, CBS, and NBC—from 1993 to 2008 are examined. The authors find that two primary representations emerge: Clinton as an innovator and Clinton as voiceless. Voiceless is an inherently negative representation, and although innovator is a positive theme, the news media tended to focus on representations of Clinton in negative stories.