|
|
|
GIA 2002 Excellence Winner
Special Projects or Programs - Public Relations
|
UNMC Public Affairs Staff
Sandy Goetzinger-Comer and Bob Bartee, UNMC
Public Affairs
|
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Public Affairs
Medical Ethics: Tough Choices
Recognizing the need for public involvement on emerging issues
in sciences, the University of Nebraska Medical Center approached
the local media (two television stations and one newspaper) to create
a public dialogue. The result was a series called Medical Ethics:
Tough Choices that used the combined strengths of newspaper, educational
TV and commercial TV to examine several issues in depth and the
ethical concerns surrounding them.
Goals:
- Educate Nebraskans about the emerging sciences and discuss the
ethics surrounding them
- Leave viewers with a better understanding of state-sponsored
scientific research
- Prepare the public to be knowledgeable about these issues when
they arose for national or local debate
Results:
- More than 6,000 people viewed the original program
- NETV station recorded a record number of calls from viewers
after airing the program
- Mirror Web site recorded more than 8,000 "hits" over a three
month period
- Legislation in the Nebraska legislature regarding banning of
fetal cell research was not passed
- Complete newspaper series was distributed statewide
Contact:
Sandy Goetzinger-Comer, Director of Public Affairs
(402) 559-4353; sgoetzin@unmc.edu
|
