Quantitative Analysis of Nutrition and Health Messages in Indian Print Media

Mass media should be considered as a tool that may influence behaviour of the community. How far mass media, particularly the print media in is catering the needs of the readers with health and nutrition information? Is the quantity of the health and nutrition information is same or varies between English and regional newspapers? To answer these questions, a quantitative analysis was conducted on English (The Hindu) and Telugu (Eenadu) newspapers pertaining to nutrition and health messages during the month of February, 2010. The percentage of space occupied by health topics in both the newspapers put together was 2.30%. For nutrition topics even less than 1% space was provided. Indian print media’s contribution in dissemination of health and nutrition information is meager. Quantity of health and nutrition information catered by regional language daily is less than the English newspaper. Regional language newspaper readers are mostly consist of economically backward and prone to undernutrition. This segment was not supplied with adequate amount of information on nutrition. Regularity to be followed in publishing health and nutrition news in regional newspapers.