Center for Health Communication

Tag: Drunk Driving

Effective public health ads/PSAs require clear, actionable, steps combined with credible stories from ‘the right messengers’

Marketing experts say public health advertising often falls short because it incites people’s worst fears rather than providing clear steps viewers can take to save lives. They say lessons from opioid messaging can inform campaigns seeking to influence behavior that could help curb the coronavirus pandemic, such as wearing masks, not gathering in big groups and getting a covid-19 vaccine…’It needs the right messengers: well-known individuals who have high credibility within specific population groups that currently are hesitant about taking the vaccine,’ [Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s, Jay] Winsten said … Continue reading

‘Law enforcement by itself cannot solve the problem, it’s going to require cultural change and that’s why we want to engage the Hollywood community, again.’ — Jay Winsten on “Under the Radar” panel

Massachusetts’ new distracted driving bill takes effect on Sunday, Feb. 23. Drivers will no longer be able to use any hand-held devices while behind the wheel, except for minor exceptions to use navigation tools on their phones. This comes after years of lobbying from advocacy groups and supporters. The new law is a legislative milestone, but the real work to eliminate distracted driving begins now, by getting drivers to change their behavior. That’s the centerpiece of a national public safety campaign headed by Harvard … Continue reading