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ROLE OF HEALTH CARE JOURNALISM. Pushpa narayan. Impact of health reporting. Where do people get information on health? MASS MEDIA -- (Internet, TV, Newspapers and Magazine ) (Informal surveys in India and abroad have shown up to 80% of information is from the mass media.)
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ROLE OF HEALTH CARE JOURNALISM Pushpa narayan
Impact of health reporting • Where do people get information on health? • MASS MEDIA -- (Internet, TV, Newspapers and Magazine) • (Informal surveys in India and abroad have shown up to 80% of information is from the mass media.) It’s important because • WRONG INFORMATION CAN KILL
WHY IT MEANS A LOT? • No news report has an universal appeal that health reports enjoy • It affects the reader in someway (accessible, available, affordable) • Media takes information on diagnosis, treatment, changes in technology and more importantly prevention BRIDGE between the healthcare experts and the public
Who is reporting on health? • No specialist training – not doctors, paramedical or even basic science graduates • Few specialists course – continuing journalism education programme. Mostly online – coursera by universities aboard • No investments from employer to train journalists SCREAMING HEADLINES, STIGMA, MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS, FACTUAL ERRORS
NEWS THAT SELLS • NEWS is not always something of scientific significance Editors pick news with: • RELEVANCE -- Does it matter to the reader? • TIMELINESS -- Is there something happening now? • SIMPLIFICATION – Can it be described in easy language? (MI - is just heart attack) • CELEBRITY: can story be linked to a famous person? (believe me, it works) • NEGATIVITY: bad news sells (outbreak gets into Page 1) • BUT GOOD NEWS also sells (organ donation, dip in MMR)
Can this change? • YES! • All it needs in co-ordinated sustained effort between experts, media houses and individuals
TAKING NOTE OF POLICY • Health journalism is no more just -- condition of government hospitals -- state-of-the art equipment in private hospital -- interview with an expert -- a rare surgery It’s critical reporting of HEALTH POLICY and other non-medical stories -- data, peer reviewed and published studies
GOOD HEALTHCAreJourNalism BENEFITs US ALL We can do it together