The overdose epidemic: a study protocol to determine whether people who use drugs can influence or shape public opinion via mass media

BACKGROUND

We are currently witnessing an ongoing drug overdose death epidemic in many nations linked to the distribution of illegally manufactured potent synthetic opioids. While many health policy makers and researchers have focused on the root causes and possible solutions to the current crisis, there has been little focus on the power of advocacy and community action by people who use drugs (PWUDs). Specifically, there has been no research on the role of PWUDs in engaging and influencing mass media opinion.

METHODS

By relying on one of the longest and largest peer-run drug user advocacy groups in the world, the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), newspaper articles, television reports, and magazines that VANDU or its members have been directly involved in will be identified via two data bases (the Canadian Newsstream & Google News). The news articles and videos related to the health of PWUDs and issues affecting PWUDs from 1997 to the end of 2020 will be analyzed qualitatively using Nvivo software.

DISCUSSION

As our communities are entering another phase of the drug overdose epidemic, acknowledging and partnering with PWUDs could play an integral part in advancing the goals of harm reduction, treatment, and human rights.

Mediatization of development in sub Saharan Africa: insights from Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), 'Mahibere Kidusan' magazine, Ethiopia

Development is an important issue for third world Sub-Saharan African countries such as Ethiopia. To enhance development, media have a significant role, but faith-based institutions, like religious media have not been considered significant contributors so far. This paper studies the Hamer, a religious magazine in Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahedo (EOTC) for about 30 years. This research examines the agenda and frames used by the Hamer magazine coverage of development issues (from 2005 -2020) in Ethiopia. The study applies a quantitative content analysis method and examined 308 stories. However, the political development issue was the most scarcely covered development issue as compared to others. Economic, moral, peace and social development issues had a relationship with the year of publication. Sources of economic development stories and dominant frames had impact on the choice of economic development stories. Similarly, dominant frames had impact on the choice of peace development stories. On the contrary, sources, story actors and dominant frames did not have significant impact on social, political, cultural, historical, moral, and natural resource development stories. Finally, the Hamer magazine had significant coverage of development issues although it is difficult to determine the causes of the extent of changes in the coverage. In conclusion, we propose that governmental and nongovernmental organizations should reconsider their communication contexts and can reach disadvantages through religious media while launching development programs.

Social comparisons on social media: the impact of Facebook on young women's body image concerns and mood

The present study experimentally investigated the effect of Facebook usage on women's mood and body image, whether these effects differ from an online fashion magazine, and whether appearance comparison tendency moderates any of these effects. Female participants (N=112) were randomly assigned to spend 10min browsing their Facebook account, a magazine website, or an appearance-neutral control website before completing state measures of mood, body dissatisfaction, and appearance discrepancies (weight-related, and face, hair, and skin-related). Participants also completed a trait measure of appearance comparison tendency. Participants who spent time on Facebook reported being in a more negative mood than those who spent time on the control website. Furthermore, women high in appearance comparison tendency reported more facial, hair, and skin-related discrepancies after Facebook exposure than exposure to the control website. Given its popularity, more research is needed to better understand the impact that Facebook has on appearance concerns.