Public Health Agencies and the Discourse of Involvement: The Case of Pandemic Influenza Planning

• In Event: Agents, Agencies and Icons: Sites and Settings for U.S. Environmental Discourse

Abstract

We present the second phase of a research project analyzing federal agency perspectives toward public engagement. Using the "public vocabulary" concept, we analyze CDC’s discourse surrounding its pandemic influenza planning and find movement toward “involving” the public through two underlying frames for understanding engagement. Additional data and analysis to be collected Spring of 2009 are presented that investigate the extent to which participants in these programs envision CDC as progressing in a like manner.

Authors

• Jennifer Hamilton, Center for Health and Environmental Communication Studies

• Caitlin Wills Toker, Gainesville State College