Editorial

THIS SPECIAL ISSUE, ENTITLED “HEALTH, MEDIA AND PARTICIPATION”, CONSISTS OF SEVEN ARTICLES THAT EXPLORE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT MEDIA PARTICIPATION AND HEALTH PARTICIPATION INTERTWINE IN CONTEMPORARY MEDIA CULTURE. IN THESE SEVEN ARTICLES, PARTICIPATION IN HEALTH AND MEDIA IS ADDRESSED IN THE ANALYSIS OF A VARIETY OF PRACTICES: PATIENTS THAT USE MEDIA TO BECOME PARTICIPANTS IN CO-DECISION AND SELF-CARE PROCESSES, PATIENTS AND CITIZENS BEING MORE OR LESS ABLE TO USE MEDIA TO ENGAGE IN (PATIENT) COMMUNITIES, PATIENTS COMMUNICATING WITH (AND AFFECTING) INSTITUTIONS AND AUTHORITIES IN NEW MEDIATED WAYS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO CREATE PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT POLITICALLY URGENT ISSUES AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS CO-DESIGNING DIGITAL LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES. ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE IN THIS WAY UNITED BY TAKING AN INTEREST IN THE DEMOCRATIC POTENTIALS AND DILEMMAS OF PARTICIPATING IN HEALTH THROUGH MEDIA PARTICIPATION. THE ISSUE ALSO INCLUDES ONE OPEN SECTION ARTICLE. THE SPECIAL ISSUE IS EDITED BY MAJA KLAUSEN, ANETTE GRØNNING AND CARSTEN STAGE.