In an age where we are bombarded with a never-ending stream of information, it can sometimes be hard to know what’s important and what’s not. In addition to the proliferation of the internet, many television stations provide their own dedicated health segment. These programs often discuss controversial topics such as the recent Atkins diet, high cholesterol, or genetically modified food products. The health news program is designed to inform rather than entertain, so the emphasis tends to be more on reporting research and scientific studies related to the health of specific groups of people. It has also been reported that TV health news tends to lean more towards advertisements rather than informative documentaries.
Some health care providers feel that health news is more often aimed at selling products to an audience rather than informing them. This point of view is not entirely unjustified; advertisements are by definition a form of marketing. But there is a difference between marketing to the general public and marketing to a group, and it is that in the latter case – which is what most television health programs aim to do – information is important in order to draw people into buying the product being promoted. A story about a new diabetes treatment, for example, will inform many people about a possible cure for a particular illness, but it will also inform the public about a new type of medication.
The problem comes in when health information becomes too much for the average person to absorb. There are two problems with this. One is that some people simply don’t have the time or the interest in reading lengthy reports on specific diseases or conditions. They just want to know what they need to know right now, and that’s all. The other problem is that health news is often couched in language that is easy to understand, so people who are already knowledgeable about a given topic tune out and don’t get the health information that they need.
For these two reasons, the average person finds themselves exposed to a different slant of health news than they would like. When something is newsworthy, there is usually some sort of benefit to the general public as a whole either financial or informational. However, when it is slanted towards the health of a single individual, that information is not necessarily beneficial to everyone. The flipside of this is that health information can also be a detriment to a person’s health, in that it could lead them to take actions that will harm their condition. Either way, people appreciate when the media makes an effort to reach out to them with health news.
As with anything else, there are both positives and negatives to receiving health information. The greatest benefit, of course, is that people feel informed and can make a difference by taking preventative measures. The other side of the coin is that receiving health news can lead people to take incorrect steps that can actually harm their health. The only way to counteract this is through a balance of education and awareness. Simply knowing that a certain disease exists or has been made more prevalent than it previously was will not help someone’s situation.
In general, most people welcome health news with open arms and embrace it with enthusiasm. However, because of the stigma that is attached to the term “fake news,” many people still find it difficult to receive information regarding any given topic. This, unfortunately, can be limiting in the extreme. While there are some individuals who may try to use misinformation to spread fear and panic, there are also many who simply want to be informed. By hearing about new advances, a person can develop their own opinion and better understand their situation.