During the influenza H1N1 outbreak of 2009, health professionals were thrust into the media spotlight and reporters were forced to interpret new scientific information. In this workshop, health professionals will learn to deliver more effective messages to the media about influenza and other public health hazards. Reporters will learn to decode the language used by health professionals when dealing with outbreaks and pandemics.
Target Audience:
* Health officers, Medical directors, Public information officers
* Members of the media (Presentation 3 specifically)
* Other interested public health professionals
Presentation 1 (1.25 hours)
How People Think about Health Risks
Presenter: Brian J. Zikmund-Fisher, PhD, Assistant Professor, UM School of Public Health
Presentation 1 focuses on risk communication principles necessary to deliver information to a range of audiences.
Dr. Zikmund-Fisher is a behavioral scientist with expertise in decision psychology, survey research, and behavioral economics. He studies ways to improve risk communication in order to improve health and medical decision making.
Presentation 2 (1.25 hours)
How to Talk to the Media About Health Risks
Anthony Collings, MA, Lecturer, UM Department of Communication Studies
Presentation 2 provides expert strategies for communicating with the media about health risks.
Mr. Collings is a Lecturer and Media Relations/Public Speaking Consultant with clients such as Google and the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He is an Emmy Award-winning journalist with extensive experience as a print and broadcast reporter (Wall St. Journal, AP, Newsweek, CNN).
Presentation 3 (1.25 hours)
Introduction to Public Health, Outbreak Investigations and Influenza
Eden Wells, MD, MPH, Medical Consultant and Epidemiologist, Bureau of Epidemiology, Michigan Department of Community Health
Presentation 3 provides an overview of outbreak investigations with examples specific to influenza.
Dr. Wells’ interests primarily involve emerging infectious disease threats and activities including preparedness planning for potential bioterrorism and pandemic influenza events in Michigan.