Live-streaming video. Podcasts. Online communities. YouTube channels. Widgets. Wikis. Microblogging. Snaps. They are all part of our everyday vernacular. However, pharmaceutical companies are operating in a gray area when it comes to these new media tools used and accessed freely each day by millions of people. The FDA strictly regulates product claims advertising, advertising which […]
Tracking the flu by examining Google search trends. Patients with rare diseases creating Facebook groups to discuss resources and treatments available—not impeded by geography. Recruitment of patients for clinical trials. Monumental health campaigns significantly amplified and enriched by new media elements and engagement. The list of proven benefits to exploring the use of new media, […]
You probably thought after hearing Beyonce’s hit song, “Girls Run the World,” that you had a pretty good idea of who was in charge. But, I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong– at least in the world of pharmaceutical communications. The prescribing information, approved by the FDA, on package inserts actually runs the […]
For the first interview of my independent study, I had the opportunity to interview—not one, but two—communications leaders from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) in Chicago. Paul Gerrard, Vice President, Strategic Communications, has spent his career working in communications. He’s had extensive experience in almost all marketing communications roles, and has worked in […]
In my final quarter in DePaul University’s New Media Studies MA program, I’m conducting an independent study where I’ll focus on healthcare and new media. I’m hoping to examine new media trends, challenges and opportunities around the healthcare industry—specifically pharmaceutical companies, healthcare systems and hospitals, health insurance companies, medical associations and other healthcare-related businesses. I’ll […]
Our new media team has strategically grown our medical association’s social presence beyond Facebook and Twitter, the two platforms which have become an absolute default for most brands. It can be a difficult task to determine where to go next. My team is exploring visual platforms, audio platforms and many others. Here are a few […]
Health campaigns have worked for decades to get people to quit smoking. Some have been successful and some have not. Campaigns have tried humor, they’ve highlighted future risks, they’ve shocked people, and many use visceral imagery to prompt people to quit. Two recent campaigns caught my attention and both get to the point in very […]
