17 Aug Please select one current news story from popular media and one current podcast episode related to mental health
- Please select one current news story from popular media and one current podcast episode related to mental health (e.g., disparities, availability, stigma, delivery, access, utilization, effectiveness, quality, funding, policy). You may select one article and one podcast episode that are entirely different from one another, or you may select two aligned by one unifying theme. Provide a copy of (or link to) each article and episode alongside your written reaction (reflection paper). Papers should be 4-5 double-spaced pages. You may prepare separate reactions to your two sources, or one reaction that includes reflections on both. Select one article or episode to share with your classmates (you will have 5 minutes to introduce the main theme and questions raised by the article/episode). Be prepared to facilitate and contribute to discussion.
- Questions to consider:
- Audience Segmentation: Who is the audience for the news story/episode you selected (e.g., demographics, who’s included, who’s missing); Who was the author/host? (e.g., journalist, scientist, consumer)
- Scientific Communication: To what extent does the article/episode cite primary sources (i.e., academic journals) – to what extent is science accurately or misrepresented? To what extent are findings contextualized in a broader scope of literature? To what extent would more (complete) information or less (complex) information be recommended toward informing readers?
- Public Face of Psychology: What does the public take away from the news story/episode with regard to perceptions of psychology and/or mental health (health, education)? What is the reader/listener left with to inform decision making (e.g., about whether or not to seek mental health care; regarding stigma; understanding the causes or correlates of a disorder).
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Criteria for Grading Points Articles/episodes are substantive, meaningful, provocative, and current (within one year) 2 Writing is fluid, clear, succinct, and well-proofread 2 Assertions are justified and properly cited 3 Paper includes thoughtful reflection and sophisticated synthesis of article content with concepts from class. Comments include considerations for themes above (audience segmentation, scientific communication, and consumer take-aways)
