Wednesday, May 29, 2013

[496] ‘MTSU On the Record’ explores media images of breastfeeding



MURFREESBORO — Depictions of breastfeeding in the media will be the topic on the next “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Dr. Katie Foss, assistant professor of journalism, will air from 5:30 to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 27, and from 8 to 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 2, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org).

Foss’s study, titled “That’s not a beer bong! It’s a breast pump! Representations of breastfeeding in prime-time fictional television,” was published in the academic journal “Health Communication.”

In her research, Foss found that television tends to shy away from portrayals of breastfeeding. She says the majority of the public accepts the practice.

“If it is truly normalized, why are we making such a big deal about it?” Foss told LiveScience. “It should just be, ‘Oh, feeding the baby, just like doing everything else with the baby as part of the show.’”

Foss found 53 representations of breastfeeding between 1974 and 2012. Forty-eight of the 53 portrayals occurred after 1998.

To listen to previous programs, go to the “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about “MTSU On the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

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