LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Webinar: How Public Health Can Navigate Communications Challenges
Public health communicators are facing growing challenges as organizations navigate new restrictions on language and increased scrutiny of messaging. A recent webinar featuring Dr. Jeff Niederdeppe of Cornell University and Dr. Julie Sweetland of the FrameWorks Institute examined how language, framing, and storytelling shape public understanding, influence funding and policy decisions, and affect progress toward health and equity.
Drawing on narrative research and tools such as FrameWorks’ Communicating Now: Framing for Health Equity, speakers shared practical strategies for communicating with clarity and care amid shifting norms and political pressures. The event also encouraged peer learning through a follow-up national discussion hosted by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Watch the webinar here.
CDC Data Show Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Reduce Pediatric Emergency Visits
New CDC data highlight the continued public health value of updated COVID-19 vaccines for children. Analysis from the VISION Vaccine Effectiveness Network found that the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines reduced COVID-19–associated emergency department and urgent care visits by 76% among children ages 9 months to 4 years and by 56% among those ages 5–17 during the first six months after vaccination.
While children experience lower hospitalization rates than older adults, infants and toddlers face comparatively high risk, and severe illness still occurs among school-aged children. These real-world effectiveness studies support evidence-based vaccine policy, strengthen vaccine confidence, and inform prevention strategies across public health systems. Read more from CDC’s MMWR here.
New Toolkit: Communicating About Public Health with Policymakers
The de Beaumont Foundation has released a new resource, Communicating About Public Health with Policymakers: A Toolkit for Public Health Professionals, designed to help public health professionals engage policymakers more effectively. Drawing from research with former elected officials and senior aides, the toolkit offers tested messages, framing strategies, and practical conversation tips to make interactions with policymakers more productive and persuasive.
It provides insights into policymakers’ perspectives, common communication barriers, and approaches to highlight shared priorities. The foundation encourages public health professionals to use the toolkit, share it with colleagues, and seek guidance on applying its strategies to enhance public health advocacy and messaging.
FEATURED TOPICS
Voices From the Field Podcast: Former NFL Stars and CDC Gear-Up Against Cancer
During the 2025 National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media (NCHCMM) in Atlanta, NPHIC conducted a special series of interviews titled Voices from the Field as part of its Public Health Speaks podcast. Over the next several weeks, NPHIC will release one new episode each week in this seven-part series, featuring conversations with public health leaders, communicators, and partners who are driving change across the nation.
The first episode kicks off with a compelling discussion on the partnership between the National Football League Alumni Association (NFL Alumni) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in their “Gear Up Against Cancer” campaign. This national initiative aims to raise awareness about the impact of colorectal cancer and the importance of early detection.
According to the CDC, colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among men and women in the United States. Data show that Black and Latino men face a higher risk, with Black men 40 percent more likely to die from the disease. Through this campaign, the NFL Alumni and CDC are using trusted voices to spread a life-saving message: get screened.
In the interview, NPHIC’s Olivia Biggs speaks with campaign partners about how regular screenings, open conversations, and community engagement can shift behaviors and save lives. Former NFL wide receiver Perry Kemp shared a heartfelt message: “Hey, it happens to football players and our families too. Prevention is everything — get tested.”
The Gear Up Against Cancer campaign has already achieved impressive results — 775 million impressions in its first six months — and continues to build momentum through listening sessions and community outreach.
We encourage all of our readers to listen to this powerful first episode and stay tuned each week as NPHIC releases the remaining Voices from the Field interviews. Each episode explores a different public health topic, offering real-world insights and inspiring stories from those working on the front lines of health communication.
Listen to the podcast here and subscribe to the series to hear more Voices from the Field!
State of Obesity Report 2025: Better Policies for a Healthier America
The 2025 State of Obesity report highlights persistent challenges and emerging opportunities in addressing the nation’s obesity crisis. While 2024 data show a slight decline in states with adult obesity rates above 35 percent, nearly 40 percent of U.S. adults remain affected, with higher rates among Black and Latino populations and residents of rural communities. Childhood obesity continues to rise, disproportionately impacting youth of color.
The report emphasizes structural factors—economic, environmental, and social—that shape access to healthy food and physical activity. It calls for sustained investment in federal prevention programs, nutrition supports, healthcare access, and community-level interventions to reduce disparities and improve public health outcomes. Read the report from TFAH here.
WHO Warns of Widespread Resistance to Common Antibiotics Worldwide
A new WHO report warns that antibiotic resistance is rising globally, with one in six bacterial infections in 2023 resistant to treatment. Drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including E. coli and K. pneumoniae, are increasingly linked to severe bloodstream infections, with resistance exceeding 70% in some regions. Between 2018 and 2023, resistance rose in over 40% of monitored pathogen-antibiotic combinations.
While participation in the WHO GLASS surveillance system has grown, nearly half of countries still lack reliable data, particularly where health systems are weakest. WHO urges countries to strengthen laboratory capacity, report high-quality data, and implement coordinated interventions to preserve antibiotic effectiveness and guide public health policies. Read more from WHO here.
Trust in Media at New Low of 28% in U.S.
Trust in U.S. news media has reached a historic low, with only 28% of adults expressing confidence in newspapers, television, and radio to report fully, fairly, and accurately. Confidence has declined across all partisan groups, with Republicans’ trust now in single digits (8%), independents at 27%, and Democrats holding a narrow majority (51%).
Generational divides are pronounced: adults 65 and older show higher trust, while younger adults remain highly skeptical. For public health communicators, these trends underscore the challenge of effectively conveying health information in a polarized media environment and highlight the importance of building credibility and trust with diverse audiences. Read more from Gallup here.
