Workshop: Can newspapers and local characteristics explain health in Edinburgh?

Join us to share your local knowledge and discuss how newspaper articles could help explain the health of people living in different parts of Edinburgh.

Do you live in or around Edinburgh and read local newspapers either in print or online?

Some neighbourhood characteristics, such as social support or antisocial behaviour, are not easily explained by official statistics. To help us better understand characteristics of local areas, researchers at the University of Edinburgh have been looking at the words that most often occur in news articles about different neighbourhoods in Edinburgh.

Using local knowledge, we would like people living in or around Edinburgh to help us understand why these topics are a focus of news articles for the local area. This will help us to understand more about the health of people in neighbourhoods across Edinburgh.

What will I be asked to do?

We are looking for 10 people who live in or around Edinburgh and regularly read local news, either in print, or online, to join an in-person group discussion in central Edinburgh.

• Wed, 10 May 2023 10:00am - 12:00 noon
• The Bayes Centre, The University of Edinburgh 47 Potterrow Edinburgh EH8 9BT

Before the discussion, you will be sent some word clouds (like in the picture above) and example news. Based on your local knowledge of Edinburgh, you’ll be asked to label/tag each word cloud with words or phrases (such as ‘politics’, ‘tourism’ or ‘property adverts’) that you think fit them best. You’ll then send your completed word clouds back to the organisers ahead of the group discussion.

We will discuss these word clouds during the group session. We will also ask you whether you agree or disagree with possible relationships between neighbourhood characteristics and health. For example:

• Neighbourhoods with high crime rates tend to be associated with poor health
• With high household overcrowding comes higher death rates
• Neighbourhoods with plenty of newspaper reports of missing persons are associated with poor mental health

We would love for you to join us and to share your local knowledge to help shape our understanding of these topics.

You will receive a £50 voucher as a thank you for your time and as recognition of the perspective and experience that you have brought to our work. We can cover reasonable travel expenses to the group discussion - please get in touch to find out more.

We will provide light refreshments during the session, including tea, coffee, and some snacks.

If you would like to attend, sign up via eventbrite.