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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

NPHIC June Newsletter hits the street

NPHIC News, our bimonthly newsletter, has just been published and it is bulging with great information. Articles include an update on the National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing & Media, as well as innovative campaigns addressing “food deserts” and vaccine hesitancy. You’ll also be introduced to a CDC division known by the acronym DGMQ that helps protect America from dangerous diseases crossing our borders. But the prime focus of this issue is on the changing news media landscape, especially the rapidly rising importance of social media amid declining interest in TV and newspaper news coverage. Three articles deal with this topic and how two states are responding particularly well to the social media challenge. Download the issue here.

Sign up now for final CERC online training of 2013

Registration is now open for the final CDC-sponsored CERC Distance Learning series of 2013! CERC Basic Training Webinar will be held each Tuesday and Thursday in June from 3:30-5 p.m. EDT, starting Tuesday, June 4, and concluding on Thursday, June 27. This free CDC training is a fast-paced, interactive, online course giving participants essential knowledge and tools to navigate the harsh realities of communicating to the public, media and partners during an intense public health emergency. Registration is limited and must be completed by May 31. You must attend a minimum of seven modules to receive a completion certificate. Register here.

Are you missing some sweet tweets?

What? You’re not following NPHIC on Twitter? Well, let’s get in gear and join our growing list of followers. You can get on board here.

National Indian Health Board newsletter and summit

The spring edition of NIHB’s Public Health Digest is now available online here. It includes an excellent example of how legal means were used to remove obstacles to public health improvement on the Navajo Nation. Also, there’s still time to register for the 4^th Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit, scheduled for June 17-19 in Hollywood, Fla. The summit link is here.

Avian flu H7N9 update and links

The CDC has established this webpage for updates and links regarding the avian flu virus H7N9 in China that has drawn international concern due to its virulent nature and potential to mutate to person-to-person transmission. Updates from the World Health Organization are here. Latest available figures for cases and deaths are here. CDC also has developed a Q&A site for the public that can be accessed here. Officials say some infected individuals have had no contact with poultry/birds, but there is no evidence of "sustained human-to-human transmission." U.S. News and World Report published this article titled "It's time to worry about the new Chinese bird flu."

Five new job openings for communicators

A quintet of new opportunities has been posted over the past week on the job board restricted to NPHIC members. The openings are in Seattle, WA; Phoenix, AZ; Atlanta, GA; Nantucket, MA; and Cedar Rapids, IA. Check them all out here.

Progress update on CDC Winnable Battles

To quickly achieve a measurable impact on a few key public health challenges, the CDC created a list of “Winnable Battles.” The CDC’s Office of the Associate Director recently updated the nation’s progress in meeting these goals with new data and trends. Click here for the latest.

Press releases that succeed!

How is it that some public information officers have a knack for taking even the most boring topic and turning it into a compelling news release? What’s their secret? You can improve your news releases by following these “5 traits of good press release writers.”

Dirtiest, cleanest cities and counties

The American Lung Association has just released its annual State of the Air report listing America’s cleanest and dirtiest cities and counties. The five dirtiest cities and counties for both particulate and ozone pollution were all in California. Maybe as a saving grace, Lake, Calif. topped the list of the cleanest counties for particulates, followed by Jackson, S.D. and Laramie, Wy. The cleanest city for particulates was Cheyenne, Wy. The report is here and a Wall Street Journal article is here.

NCPIE's Pass It Forward video challenge

The National Council on Patient Information and Education is sponsoring a video competition asking young adults age 18-25 to create 2-minute videos that use social media to promote prescription drug abuse prevention and youth in recovery. Entries are due June 7. Details available here.

Asthma Awareness Month resources

May is Asthma Awareness Month and various government and non-profit organizations are offering resources and scheduling events. Each day in America, 40,000 people miss school or work, 5,000 visit the emergency room, 1,000 are admitted to the hospital and 11 die due to asthma. A one-page fact sheet is here. The EPA has ideas for asthma awareness activities here. The CDC’s press release is here. More resources and information from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America are here.