Aurora top 20 – February 2009
Posted on 03. Mar, 2009 by phaedrus in Communications, Health, Industry, News
February, as ever, brings us St Valentine’s Day and everyone in the Aurora office has been feeling the love since the birth of our new I love PR campaign. But matters of the heart are not the only ones with which we are concerned. We keep an eye on all areas of anatomical and mental health, and their coverage in the media. This month has seen some interesting therapeutic areas active in the media.
Movers and Shakers
February has brought a lot of movement in the Aurora top 20 chart. Cancer has finally been knocked off the top spot after a hat-trick of months as the most covered therapeutic area. Nutrition is back at number one as the Government’s Change4Life campaign gets under way and diet is being more closely linked than ever to multiple health issues. As coverage reduces on the significant story of false links between MMR and autism, and several other areas dropped off the bottom of the chart, space has been made for seven re-entries this month including cholesterol, dementia, stroke and dental issues. And, on a positive note, as the weather warmed up a bit in February, the norovirus has lost its spot on the chart and influenza has dropped right down to nineteenth place from number three.
Taking a look at the rev-counter in its second month on the road, the shape of broader health issues by quantity of coverage has changed quite noticeably. ‘Independent research’ has emerged as this month’s driver with ‘health service delivery’ down to second, followed closely by ‘pharmaceutical industry’ stories such as GSK’s pledge to discount drug prices to poorer countries and Pfizer’s acquisition of Wyeth. It would seem from these data that, in these turbulent financial times, journalists are more interested in writing about new medicines and future innovation than current woes.
And finally, Aurora was pleased and amused to learn of the recent surge in people wanting to join dance classes. Between the massive success of TV show, Strictly Come Dancing, and health secretary Alan Johnson’s Change4Life drive focusing on making dancing classes accessible to all, getting up on your feet and having a boogie seems to be quite the activity of the time. Something all of us at Aurora applaud as anything fun that counts as exercise too can only be a good thing. Tango anyone?
To view this month’s top 20 in its full glory, please click here
Neil Crump
04. Mar, 2009
It is really interesting to see the shift in the driving force behind the stories.
Must dash – got to get off to my salsa class!