Harnessing the Media to Raise Awareness

In the past, the local newspaper in Jessamine County, KY was not eager to print stories about environmental issues. This January, however, Lindsay Ball and the Jessamine County Health Department decided to engage the newspaper to help distribute free radon tests during National Radon Action Month.

“I called the newspaper office and asked them how I needed to go about getting an article about radon in the newspaper,” explained Lindsay Ball. “I told the editor what radon was and how it was the second leading cause of lung cancer. I asked if they could print an article about radon stating that the Health Department had free radon test kits available.”

After learning about the major health effects of radon and potential impact on their community, the editor was more than happy to print the article. He asked Lindsay to submit an article.

“Perhaps he thought the part about radon causing cancer might be an appealing article for his readers. If there is a way to prevent cancer, of course people want to know about it.”

Jessamine County saw the impact of their outreach almost immediately.

“The day the article was printed, our Health Department started receiving calls. Next, people began to come in our office with the printed article in hand and asking for free radon test kits. We gave them a kit, explained how to use it, and handed them an informational booklet on radon.”

A total of 32 test kits were distributed as a direct result of the article, an impressive total for the Jessamine County Health Department. The success of this outreach has opened the door for future engagement of the media to raise radon awareness.

“I plan to write articles in the future covering different aspects of radon such as radon-resistant new construction. Perhaps next year for NRAM, our newspaper will print 2-4 articles during the month of January.”

In addition, Lindsay hopes to contact other widely read newspapers in the area to extend the reach of her radon outreach efforts.

To read Lindsay Ball’s article printed in the Jessamine Journal, click here. You must register for free membership on the Jessamine Journal’s Web site in order to access the article.