PALAVRAS-CHAVE: OBSERVATÓRIO DE MÍDIA • OBSERVATÓRIO DE SAÚDE NA MÍDIA • POLÍTICAS DE COMUNICAÇÃO E DE SAÚDE PÚBLICA AbstractThis article discusses the role of media observatories in general and of health observatories in particular to improve the journalistic treatment of news related to the theme. It evaluates its relevance to the debate about the policies and actions of communication in public health in Brazil. Internet search reveals the diversity of health oriented observatories and others that include the topic in their contents. Only the Health Observatory in Media of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) focuses entirely on the subject. Hence the importance of broadening the scope of such observatories in public sphere to put in practice systematic monitoring of health information published in media.