Berkeley Media Studies Group studies how the media portrays public health issues and supports public health practitioners, advocates, community groups, youth leaders, and others interested in shifting the public debate on health and social justice issues. COVID-19 creates unprecedented communication challenges for public health and creates opportunities to speak powerfully about the need to create a new normal, that is equitable, inclusive, and offers everyone the opportunity to be healthy. This session will focus on resources that help public health practitioners communicate more effectively about COVID-19 as it intersects with other important health issues so we can shape the debate and create a new normal that centers racial and health equity. 

 Learning Objectives

• Distinguish media advocacy from other approaches to health communications. 
• Apply strategy and messaging tools that provide the foundation for a strategic approach to communications.
• Explore tools to communicate more effectively about COVID-19 and racial and health equity. 

Duration: 36 minutes

Continuing Education Information:  0.5 CECH for CHES

Format: Web-based training, Self Study

Originally Recorded: 08/2020

Presenter: Katherine Schaff, DrPH

Dr. Katherine Schaff works to help build the organizational and communications capacity of local health departments, government agencies, and community-based organizations working towards racial and health equity. Prior to joining Berkeley Media Studies Group, she spent 11 years at the Alameda County Public Health Department working towards racial, social, and health equity through policy change, community partnerships, and building institutional and staff capacity within the health department and the county. Before moving to the Bay area, Katherine supported local health departments at the National Association of County and City Health Officials in Washington, DC. She received her Masters of Public Health and Doctor of Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. Her doctoral research focused on how local health departments addressed and communicated about the foreclosure crisis as a driver of health inequities.