Mindframe releases report on quality of Australian AOD media reporting

A new media monitoring study building on the evidence base of the impact the Mindframe approach has on media practice has been released. This piece of work has established a baseline dataset of media entries published prior to the implementation of the Mindframe for Alcohol and Other Drugs guidelines.

The study was conducted by experts in the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) research sector at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use and was led by Dr Matthew Sunderland. A detailed report of the study is available to download from the Mindframe website.

Centre Director and NHMRC Investigator Fellow at the University of Sydney, Professor Maree Teesson AC, FASSA, FAHMS said “This work will allow for future research to monitor changes in the reporting of AOD related issue in the media. It will also allow for evaluation of the impact of the MIndframe for Alcohol and Other Drugs guidelines on media practices.”

Over 2,000 articles focusing on AOD were reviewed as part of the study. The majority of the identified articles were primarily focussed on the substances alcohol, cannabis or methamphetamine. Criminal justice, law enforcement, or alcohol/drug-related crime were the main topic of identified articles. It was also found that almost half of media already adhere to the recommendations of the Mindframe for AOD guidelines.

Everymind Acting Program Manager, Sara Bartlett is pleased to have the opportunity to share the learnings from this research with the sector.

“Building on the evidence base of best practice communication on AOD issues is a focus of the Mindframe project. This is a big step forward in developing a clear map of the impact the Mindframe for Alcohol and Other Drugs guidelines is having on media practices.”

“Mindframe Guidelines have supported safe reporting, portrayal and communication on suicide and mental ill-health for more than two decades and are now bringing these learnings and expertise to AOD.”

Click here for more information and a copy of the media monitoring study.