The Impacts of Nutritional Information from the Media on Consumer Food Preferences - Literature review Example

NUTRITION JOURNALISM Name Instructor Course Institution Date County/State Nutrition Journalism Most of the consumers all over the world are increasingly becoming aware with chronic and preventable health problems. Hence, diet and nutrition have been recognized as one of the major factors directly affecting health. According to Whitney and Rolfes (2007), three-quarters of the leading causes of death in the United Stated are associated with dietary issues. Over the past decades, it has been found out that credible sources of nutritional information are critical and significant to individuals. Even though much nutritional information has been in existence for several decades in various forms, new information continues to appear constantly because of new technology and research. The new nutritional information and the methods of media used for communication are significant and are expected to affect consumers’ preferences. Usually, this is seen when the consumers make choices about foods while reducing the doubts concerning the health attributes of the various foods. Deep comprehensions of nutrition and health information on the consumers’ food preferences are highly likely to contribute to the establishment and implementation of effectual communication strategies for changing nutritional behavior. Attribution theory is based on an individual’s character in relation to environmental factors. According to Fiske and Taylor as stated by Saul McLeod (2012), attribution theory is the examination of gathered information by a perceiver in determining its cause. It is categorized into internal and external attribution where the internal is the association of personality with the habits or behaviours portrayed. On the other hand external attribution is the determination of a given behaviour to external factors. Lasswell’s theory on the other hand is the communication processes and the functions it implies to the society (Bussinesstopia, 2017). The process of communication can be elaborated as the content in the message from a communicator through a particular medium to the receiver and finally the effect it has to the society. The functions include the environment surveillance, the relationship between society components and the transmission culture among generations. Therefore, the paper will talk about two sources of media, which include engaging in a television show and an article section in a newspaper. More specifically, conducting a television segment will be considered a good example to disseminate nutritional information to the consumers, whereas the use of articles in a newspaper will be a poor method. Furthermore, the essay will relate its arguments to the use of media and communication theory. Previous studies have often indicated that a majority of Americans are torn between choosing nutritional options. Given that much nutritional information is received from the news media, it is critical to understand how these sources report about the issue. As an important aspect of the paper, it will refer to the Today show, which is usually aired on NBC to discuss the importance of nutrition journalism. The NBC’s Today segment TV show in the United States was prompted by the rise of obesity as seen in the last twenty years (Bray, Nielsen, & Popkin, 2004). The show is significant because statistics indicate it has a majority of morning viewers amidst three major broadcast networks (Bauder, 2010). Food consumption in the United States has received a lot of attention from politicians, policy makers, nutritionists, and the consumers. Therefore, because of the increased interest, the coverage of nutritional issues has been constant news in the media (Stahl, 2000). Even though a majority of viewers have admitted to the effectiveness of information received from various media outlets, others have shown mistrust because the information they received was inaccurate (Hackmann & Moe, 1999). For instance, Stahl (2000) discovered that television coverage on nutrition often seem vague because some of the segments lacked context and evidence to back up the nutritional advice. Hence, the insubstantial information received from the media gives the viewers an unclear picture surrounding food and nutrition. Research conducted by Pew Research Center for the people and the press (2010) survey revealed that women contributed to about sixty-eight percent of the viewers in the morning news segments. Hamrick (2005) perceived the gender division to be crucial in nutrition because it is the women who controlled food in a majority of American households. Moreover, the American Time Use survey revealed that the average minutes spent by women on grocery shopping were 8.4 minutes as compared to the men who spent 4.2 minutes. Simply, women’s understanding of food and nutrition has a major impact on the health of their families. Hence, evaluating the programs in which they are the primary audience is important. Different media sources have different target audiences depending on the nature of the information they are relaying. Not only is the information by the press relevant to the viewers and consumers but it is also important for health care practitioners. The high level of obesity the country is experiencing has become very alarming because the most affected population were young adults. Besides, obesity was found to cause other complications such as high blood pressure, hypertension, and coronary heart diseases. According to Hensrud and Klein (2006), the cost of treating obesity is high making it a common problem among the Americans. Therefore, besides targeting young adults who were at greater risk of contracting obesity, the morning TV show also focused on reducing the treatment cost for a majority of Americans through offering a nutritional guide. Having a daily morning TV show on the network was a major nutritional milestone for engaging many Americans with obesity or facing the risks of obesity. As stated by Stahl (2002), Americas receive a majority of information about food and nutrition through the television making this communication medium a significant component in dealing with the issues of obesity. However, one major controversy associated with the medium of information is the contradicting and confusing messages, which may be passed differently across many television networks. Therefore, about the theory of media and communication, there should be general themes that occur in the discussion to establish consistency in the information passed and avoid confusions. For instance, the issues of communication should include factors such as causation and determinism, meaning, identity, social reality, and cultural difference. Usually, it is the nature of the theory of communication to attempt to solve questions of the cause and effects. This will include whether it is defending an overall explanation that is associated with the observations or investigating if one factor caused the other. Based on holding a morning segment of the TV show on nutrition, the presenters should be well equipped with valid information about the presentation they are making. More often than not, viewers are attracted by receiving information from credible sources, especially when it is on the national television. Therefore, presenters should be competent when it comes to analysing different health problems and the appropriate nutritional steps to take because of the many viewers who will be eagerly waiting for health tips. Secondly, this outlet of communication should strive to contain meaning of a theme that constantly arises. For instance, one common way of curing obesity is through exercises. To enhance effectiveness, media outlets, which help people to deal with obesity, should ensure that they are on the same page. However, it should be noted that there exists no unique source of meaning, and there is no specific way of passing a message across. The scope of the media’s impact on food and nutrition is usually extensive. A majority of people obtain health information from different types of media outlets. These include Internet sources such as Facebook, books, and magazines. The act of looking exclusively at the television enables the viewers to acquire information from scripted and unscripted programming and various commercial advertisements. The increasing food and nutrition coverage on the news in the modern world has significantly influenced the purchasing behaviours of consumers. Let us take an example of the mandate established by Food and Drug Administration in 2006, which required all the nutrition labels to highlight the trans-fat content per serving. Based on this, Nierderdeppe and Frosch (2009) discovered that the negative coverage of trans-fats in various food products led to a reduced number of purchases by the consumers. Furthermore, the two researchers found that drop in the purchases of the product lasted for about two weeks whenever negative stories of the ingredients made headlines. Simply, the research suggests that the news media are capable of empowering consumers to make positive decisions about food and nutrition thereby enhancing good health. However, it should be noted that particular factors would make other communication channels more effective than the others would (Goldberg, 2000). The television programs are a good source of passing nutritional information because it has been established by many studies of the increased number of users each year. Besides, this is the first site where breaking or prompt news will be aired before being reported by other media outlets. Therefore, it is highly likely to find that the show will retain its viewers. The type of media theory used in the show is Lass well’s because the show attempts to correlate the components of the society through content and control analysis (Watson, 2008). It targets the public, and the effect of the show is to educate consumers on different health and nutritional issues. In my opinion, this is the best theory to use, but to reinforce the effectiveness, the show can employ attribution theory. It will involve assigning different foods to particular health problems and nutritional needs. The Guardian is one of the United Kingdom reputable newspapers that is read widely by both young and old generation. The Guardian covers a broad range of subjects, and its purpose is to inform, educate and entertain the readers. The Guardian newspaper feature various article such as the segment on nutrition that is meant to inform the readers about current development on matters pertaining food and health. Research shows that there is a relationship between diet and body health and therefore, certain diseases and medical conditions can be prevented by eating right (Singer, & Ashman, 2009). The Guardian paper tries to cover current issue for instance, on the matter of nutrition and lifestyle conditions such as obesity. Since the paper is written from the perceptive of the readers, it is usually, simple to understand concept and terms used for example, in the nutritional articles. Thus, the most people who prefer the Guardian newspaper are enthusiast readers who are keen to get comprehensive information. Thus, the adoption of the newspaper as the media source can be used to disseminate nutritional information that is complete and detailed. Images can be used to illustrate nutritional facts as well as the inclusion of the source of information so as to ensure that only credible information is disseminated. Besides, the conveying nutritional information through newspaper articles can be improved by getting feedback from the readers. Thus, the publisher can ensure that section presented has the contact details in case the reader needs clarification (Cooper et el, 2012). The newspaper is the best way of delivering nutritional information due to the credibility of written information compared to the Tv Shows. However, the audience identifies much with the visual information due to the presence human interaction that seems to be more effective than reading. In the modern times, people are considering the source of information that is convenient and cheap, and in this case, nutrition audience would prefer Television shows more than the newspaper. The Guardian newspaper can increase its visibility to the readers through online presence where people can assess information freely. Besides, the newspaper can send free email alerts and nutritional articles directly to the readers either via social platforms such as Facebook or Post Office or electronic mail. On the other hand, giving out nutritional advice on a newspaper will tend to register low effectiveness. Over the past few years, studies have suggested that very few people will buy a newspaper. Those who buy newspapers are more likely to look for employment. Therefore, as a communication source, using an article in the newspaper to pass nutritional information will be poor because it engages limited number of people. For proper nutritional results, it is good to have a larger audience as this will prompt many questions and increase discussions, which is essentially the work of the media. However, it is important for columnists and news reporters to substantiate and support their information and facts because this is what the audience care about. Giving people vague information especially on health tips and nutrition will make the readers and the viewer’s lose trust in their sources. Most newspapers utilize the social marketing theory of communication and advertisement to help create awareness and stimulate interest. Consequently, even though nutritional articles in the newspapers can include photographic images, readers will still tend to be attracted to more actions. For instance, when teaching your readers on how to make a smoothie after a workout session, a majority would prefer videos showing the steps instead of a written recipe. This makes the difference between the readers and the viewers, hence, influencing the effectiveness of nutritional information. Using videos is more effective because there will be a visual presentation of the nutritional steps. Moreover, engaging in the visual aspect of communication is more interesting, the many paragraphs they will not have to read will not bore viewers easily. The modern technological advancements in the world of communication have been paramount in the dissemination of information. This has enhanced the field of nutritional journalism. Currently, nutritionists can upload videos on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for their audience or followers. Therefore, it is the role and the responsibility of the nutritional specialist to invent a successful program and communication channel that enables them to reach many viewers or readers. For instance, some of the most important aspects to consider include the goal of the program, the target audience, your expectations, the delivery method, and the ways of improving the segment. Based on the two media sources presented, as a nutritionist professional, I would settle for a session in the television network since it is highly likely to engage with several people. Besides, due to the advanced technologies, individuals who miss the shows can readily trace the link of the show on sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. For example, if the first month were for tackling obesity, I would start with a visual education on the common foods and lifestyle behaviours that are likely to lead to obesity. A thorough presentation of the visuals will be shown to stress on the seriousness of the problem. A majority of publications have supported the notion that actions often speak louder than words. Therefore, I believe showing the world a visual presentation on a constant basis will ensure that people understand the graveness of the problem. Likewise, fitness programs such as simple jogging and squats can be visually introduced in the show. The steps, the intensity, and time are important factors to be considered in the show. Most importantly, different diets can be included in the program as well as the recommended amounts. Foods should be virtually included, and their recipes are given systematically. More often than not, viewers always prefer precise steps towards making certain recipes that can get them lose weight or maintain good health. Appropriate workouts and proper nutrition should be the key factors to be included in the journalism program. Also, it is crucial to consider the primary factors in media and communication. For instance, I would devise effective communication approaches, which will be aimed at altering dietary behavior. I would implement this strategy because of various reasons. First, it will not only assist policy makers to come up with regulatory and legal policies designed to promote health but also help food companies to manufacture products that care about the well-being of the consumers (Jung, 2016). In conclusion, the impact of nutritional information from the general media is very substantial in determining the consumers’ food preferences as well as choices. A majority of people are often aware of their health issues and having such programs will boost and motivate individuals to adopt healthy lifestyles. The key to a successful program implementation is to maintain consistency with the viewers and engage them in every session especially through actions. Furthermore, the television segment can be complemented by other media sources such as Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram to increase effectiveness and enhance follow-ups. Reference Cooper, B. E., Lee, W. E., Goldacre, B. M., & Sanders, T. A. (2012). The quality of the evidence for dietary advice given in UK national newspapers. Public Understanding of Science, 21(6), 664-673. Bauder, D. (2010, December 13). NBC's Today show streak hits 15 years, The Associated Press. Retrieved from Bray, G.A., Nielsen, S.J. and Popkin, B.M., 2004. Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 79(4), pp.537-543. Goldberg, J.P., 2000. Nutrition communication in the 21st century: what are the challenges and how can we meet them? Nutrition, 16(7), pp.644-646. Hackman, E.M. and Moe, G.L., 1999. Evaluation of newspaper reports of nutrition-related research. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 99(12), pp.1564-1566. Hamrick, K. and Shelley, K.J., 2005. How much time do Americans spend preparing and eating food? Amber Waves, 3(5), p.10. Hensrud, D.D. and Klein, S., 2006, October. Extreme obesity: a new medical crisis in the United States. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 81, No. 10, pp. S5-S10). Elsevier. Jung, E.H., Walsh-Childers, K. and Kim, H.S., 2016. Factors influencing the perceived credibility of diet-nutrition information web sites. Computers in Human Behavior, 58, pp.37-47. McLeod, S. A. (2010). Attribution Theory. Retrieved from www.simplypsychology.org/attribution-theory.html Niederdeppe, J. and Frosch, D.L., 2009. News coverage and sales of products with Trans-fat: effects before and after changes in federal labelling policy. American journal of preventive medicine, 36(5), pp.395-401. The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 2010. Ideological news sources: Who Watches and why: Americans spending more time following the news [Data file]. Retrieved fromhttp://people-press.org/reports/pdf/652.pdf Salzman, N., 2011. Nutrition and the News: An Analysis of Nutrition Coverage on the Today Show. Singer, J. B., & Ashman, I. (2009). “Comment is free, but facts are sacred”: User-generated content and ethical constructs at the Guardian. Journal of mass media ethics, 24(1), 3-21. Today. (2017, February 4. About Today. Retrieved from Watson, J. (2008). Media communication: An introduction to theory and process. Palgrave Macmillan. Whitney, E. and Rolfes, S.R., 2007. Understanding nutrition. Cengage Learning. Read More

Furthermore, the essay will relate its arguments to the use of media and communication theory. Previous studies have often indicated that a majority of Americans are torn between choosing nutritional options. Given that much nutritional information is received from the news media, it is critical to understand how these sources report about the issue. As an important aspect of the paper, it will refer to the Today show, which is usually aired on NBC to discuss the importance of nutrition journalism.

The NBC’s Today segment TV show in the United States was prompted by the rise of obesity as seen in the last twenty years (Bray, Nielsen, & Popkin, 2004). The show is significant because statistics indicate it has a majority of morning viewers amidst three major broadcast networks (Bauder, 2010). Food consumption in the United States has received a lot of attention from politicians, policy makers, nutritionists, and the consumers. Therefore, because of the increased interest, the coverage of nutritional issues has been constant news in the media (Stahl, 2000).

Even though a majority of viewers have admitted to the effectiveness of information received from various media outlets, others have shown mistrust because the information they received was inaccurate (Hackmann & Moe, 1999). For instance, Stahl (2000) discovered that television coverage on nutrition often seem vague because some of the segments lacked context and evidence to back up the nutritional advice. Hence, the insubstantial information received from the media gives the viewers an unclear picture surrounding food and nutrition.

Research conducted by Pew Research Center for the people and the press (2010) survey revealed that women contributed to about sixty-eight percent of the viewers in the morning news segments. Hamrick (2005) perceived the gender division to be crucial in nutrition because it is the women who controlled food in a majority of American households. Moreover, the American Time Use survey revealed that the average minutes spent by women on grocery shopping were 8.4 minutes as compared to the men who spent 4.2 minutes. Simply, women’s understanding of food and nutrition has a major impact on the health of their families.

Hence, evaluating the programs in which they are the primary audience is important. Different media sources have different target audiences depending on the nature of the information they are relaying. Not only is the information by the press relevant to the viewers and consumers but it is also important for health care practitioners. The high level of obesity the country is experiencing has become very alarming because the most affected population were young adults. Besides, obesity was found to cause other complications such as high blood pressure, hypertension, and coronary heart diseases.

According to Hensrud and Klein (2006), the cost of treating obesity is high making it a common problem among the Americans. Therefore, besides targeting young adults who were at greater risk of contracting obesity, the morning TV show also focused on reducing the treatment cost for a majority of Americans through offering a nutritional guide. Having a daily morning TV show on the network was a major nutritional milestone for engaging many Americans with obesity or facing the risks of obesity.

As stated by Stahl (2002), Americas receive a majority of information about food and nutrition through the television making this communication medium a significant component in dealing with the issues of obesity. However, one major controversy associated with the medium of information is the contradicting and confusing messages, which may be passed differently across many television networks. Therefore, about the theory of media and communication, there should be general themes that occur in the discussion to establish consistency in the information passed and avoid confusions.

For instance, the issues of communication should include factors such as causation and determinism, meaning, identity, social reality, and cultural difference.

Read More