Mass Media and Health Communication in India

Mass media plays a significant role in health promotion, and is crucial for social development. Television and newspapers are important source of health and nutrition science for many viewers and readers. Many research studies have considered them as a tool that may influence behavior of the community. Therefore, the reporting of news about medicine, public health and nutrition science is an area of concern to many health and social scientists. In this background, this book "Mass Media and Health Communication in India" mirrors the role being played by popular Indian media in disseminating health information in general and nutrition knowledge in particular. This book measured not only quantity and quality of health news, but also levels of authenticity of that content. Health news including research findings in newspapers; and food advertisements in television including health & nutrition claims were deeply analyzed. The book also highlights variations in coverage of health news between English and vernacular language newspapers. The book is useful in devising plans to disseminate health communication through mass media.