{"title":"Covert marketing of quick-service restaurants via news media in Australia: A content analysis","authors":"Ruby Brooks , Kathryn Backholer , James Kite","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2024.100150","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>To determine the extent and nature of news media coverage generated from press releases made by top-selling quick-service restaurants in Australia.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>We conducted a content analysis of press releases made between July 2021 and June 2022 by the five largest quick-service restaurant brands in Australia by brand share, including coding their main subject. We then conducted a content analysis of news media coverage related to the press releases, including coding its slant towards the brand.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Among 52 press releases, new food products (27% of press releases; all unhealthy foods) and corporate social responsibility activities (25%) were the most promoted subjects. For 62% of press releases, at least one news media item was identified. Among the 86 identified news media items, most related to press releases promoting new food products (45% of news media items) or corporate social responsibility activities (21%). News media items overwhelmingly had a slant favourable to the relevant brand (93%).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Press releases by top-selling quick-service restaurant brands in Australia commonly generate news media coverage that promotes such brands and their predominantly unhealthy products.</p></div><div><h3>Implications for public health</h3><p>Policies restricting unhealthy food marketing should consider brand-generated news media coverage.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"48 3","pages":"Article 100150"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020024000256/pdfft?md5=a7484f0edad752caa2b8eb08991a2638&pid=1-s2.0-S1326020024000256-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020024000256","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective
To determine the extent and nature of news media coverage generated from press releases made by top-selling quick-service restaurants in Australia.
Methods
We conducted a content analysis of press releases made between July 2021 and June 2022 by the five largest quick-service restaurant brands in Australia by brand share, including coding their main subject. We then conducted a content analysis of news media coverage related to the press releases, including coding its slant towards the brand.
Results
Among 52 press releases, new food products (27% of press releases; all unhealthy foods) and corporate social responsibility activities (25%) were the most promoted subjects. For 62% of press releases, at least one news media item was identified. Among the 86 identified news media items, most related to press releases promoting new food products (45% of news media items) or corporate social responsibility activities (21%). News media items overwhelmingly had a slant favourable to the relevant brand (93%).
Conclusions
Press releases by top-selling quick-service restaurant brands in Australia commonly generate news media coverage that promotes such brands and their predominantly unhealthy products.
Implications for public health
Policies restricting unhealthy food marketing should consider brand-generated news media coverage.
期刊介绍:
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (ANZJPH) is concerned with public health issues. The research reported includes formal epidemiological inquiries into the correlates and causes of diseases and health-related behaviour, analyses of public policy affecting health and disease, and detailed studies of the cultures and social structures within which health and illness exist. The Journal is multidisciplinary and aims to publish methodologically sound research from any of the academic disciplines that constitute public health.