Public Health Challenges, News & Research

A Commonwealth Fund study found that patients in the U.S. faired poorly when compared to those in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The U.S. got the lowest possible scores in the following categories: Overall ranking, patient safety, patient-centeredness, efficiency, and equity.

Here's a no-brainer: A recent study commissioned by the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) concluded that newsrooms with larger numbers of Asian American staffers did a better job of covering Asian American communities and issues than less-diverse newsrooms. Read more.

The Public News Service (PNS) is a collection of more than a dozen independent state-based news services that provide high quality public interest journalism to both mainstream and alternative media on a daily basis. Supported by almost 250 nonprofit organizations and other contributors, PNS provides radio (and, increasingly, television) coverage of issues such as Disabilities, Health Issues, Hunger/Food/Nutrition, Mental Health, Senior Issues, Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Urban Planning/Transportation and Women's Issues to name just a few.

The U.S. 2007 Budget proposal eliminates 6 Health and Human Services programs to save $866 million and reduces spending by about $1 billion in 5 other programs. Among those eliminated:
• Community Action Agencies grants, which fund employment, housing, and health care for those with low incomes
• Preventive Health and Human Services Block Grant, which funds disease prevention, injury reduction, sex-offense prevention
• Maternal and Child Health Small Categorical Grant program (certain categories eliminated)
• Urban Indian Health Program, which provides care for 60 percent of Native Americans living in urban areasSlated for reduced spending:
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HSRA), which directs health care professionals to underserved communities
• HSRA Rural Health ProgramsThe transcript of Secretary Leavitt's Health and Human Services budget briefing can be found at: http://www.hhs.gov/budget/brief.html

One in 20 of the district's 500,000 residents is HIV-positive and one in 50 is living with AIDS. Funding for AIDS programs has increased but has not kept pace with the rise of the disease in Washington. Listen as Michele Norris reports about the factors contributing to this situation and what The Women's Collective members and senior deputy director of the HIV/AIDS Administration, Dr. Marsha Martin, are trying to do to help stem the epidemic. (Source: "All Things Considered," NPR)

A new White Paper from Public Knowledge is a primer and advocate for Net Neutrality. The paper not only lays out the arguments for nondiscrimination in broadband service, it also addresses the major arguments against Network Neutrality. It includes draft language for policymakers.

The Center for Digital Democracy focuses on the full potential of public media -- including public broadcasting, but focusing especially on a range of new digital technologies -- in the broadband era. The Center believes it's time for more collaborative and community-based efforts. Technological convergence, says their latest report, must not be allowed to become the latest victim of media consolidation. Part 1, Expanding Public Media in the Digital Age, is available at the URL below. It contains chapters titled, "Edgewise: The Media Landscape's New Geography", "Back to the Future: Public Broadcasting in the Digital Age" and "Do-it-Ourselves" Media: New Opportunities for Alternative Voices."

The Annie E. Casey Foundation reports on a promising shift toward more humane approaches in the U.S. juvenile justice system. "Several states have announced plans to replace prison-like youth facilities with smaller, more therapeutic correctional homes, and over five dozen jurisdictions nationwide are implementing a detention reform model . . ." (Source: Annie E. Casy Foundation) (PDF)

While newspapers are not known for their technology innovations, some papers are changing tactics as they see their subscriber lists shrinking. One tactic that's working very well for some news operations is using hyperlocal, Web-based news in which local stories are both written and read by a large local audience on-line.

Native Hawaiian health providers are reclaiming traditional "talk story" and sponsoring "fish and poi" gatherings in order to promote healthy lifestyles throughout the island state. Through a partnership between public and commercial radio stations and a community health clinic, "Being a Healthy Hawaiian" emphasizes the wealth of native traditions that can be used to achieve physical and mental health. Read more about it in the on-line publication Local Voices. The January 2006 Local Media Issue is the third in a series telling stories from the successful projects of Sound Partners for Community Health. Download the 9-page PDF document. (1.8 MB)