title: Policy in practice accentuate the positive.
abstract: I was at an event recently run by the charity Counsel and Care, which focused on older people in the media. It provided an opportunity to reflect on how society thinks about older people and how powerful the media are in shaping public opinion. The media have the potential for positive and negative portrayals in print and online and to influence how we all think. As negative stories about older people abound, we need to take some responsibility in challenging the media at a national and local level.
authors.affiliation: Older people at the Department of Health, London.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sturdy