Jennifer Stuber (assistant professor, social welfare, University of Washington) joined the "Mental health: Reporting beyond the labels" panel at Health Journalism 2009 to discuss "Mental Health and the News." Stuber's presentation explained the key role the media play in shaping conceptions of mental illness and urged reporters to create stories that did not increase the stigma of mental illness by playing to negative stereotypes. She recommended that reporters instead take care when speaking of mental illness and consult mental health experts to provide context when the subject is addressed. Stuber also directed reporters to an in-depth media guide for reporting on mental illness.
