#USA #Washington #National Press Club #Common Health Coalition #public health journalism

National Press Club Launches Training Series for Public Health Journalism

In a bid to combat the rampant spread of misinformation and address growing health inequalities in America, the National Press Club Journalism Institute has announced an innovative training program specifically designed for journalists reporting on public health issues. As vital as ever, this initiative focuses on enhancing the skills required to navigate the complexities of America's health landscape, particularly amidst backdrop of ongoing disinformation campaigns.

The upcoming series will consist of six informative Zoom sessions scheduled to take place generally on the last Tuesday of each month, beginning February. Below is a brief overview of the topics to be covered during these sessions:

1. Uncovering Reporting on Solution-Focused Infrastructures - February 25, noon ET
This session aims to highlight the importance of solution-driven reporting in public health and will guide journalists in identifying effective healthcare infrastructures.

2. Covering Public Health Policy in the Current Political Landscape - March 25, noon ET
Here, participants will learn how to critically evaluate and report on current health policies against the backdrop of a highly polarized political environment.

3. How Community Health Workers Can Be the Key to Your Reporting - April 29, noon ET
Community health workers play a pivotal role in public health; this session will explore their contributions and how they can enhance journalistic narratives.

4. Covering Rural-Urban Health Disparities - May 27, noon ET
This session will delve into the health disparities observed between urban and rural communities and provide journalists with data-driven insights for their reporting.

5. Finding Focus and Shaping Your Narrative - June 24, noon ET
Participants will learn techniques to refine their focus and effectively shape narratives that resonate with audiences.

6. Lessons from Our Inaugural Journalism Fellowship Cohort - July 25, noon ET
This culminating session will feature insights from five journalists involved in the Institute’s inaugural Public Health Reporting Fellowship, sponsored by the Common Health Coalition. They will share their findings and experiences from projects that address healthcare disparities affecting immigrant workers, rural populations, and elderly communities.

A Free and Accessible Resource
Registration for these online training sessions is completely free and open to the public, encouraging wide participation among journalists. All registrants will receive a link to access recordings of the sessions.

Beth Francesco, Executive Director of the NPC Journalism Institute, emphasizes the urgency of fostering proficient health journalism: "Recent history has illustrated the necessity of strong health journalism that not only explains critical issues but goes further to reveal the impact of solutions-oriented infrastructures that could help improve public health," she stated.

By offering this series, the Institute aims to empower health journalists with the knowledge needed to produce accurate, fact-based reporting that can profoundly influence public understanding and advocacy for health equity.

About the Common Health Coalition

The Common Health Coalition, which is dedicated to unifying health organizations, envisions a restructured health system that fosters collaboration between healthcare providers and public health initiatives, ultimately working towards healthier communities across the nation. More information about their mission and initiatives can be found on their official website.

About the National Press Club Journalism Institute

The NPC Journalism Institute is driven by a mission to cultivate an informed, engaged global citizenry through a robust, independent, and free press. As the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club, it endeavors to equip journalists with the necessary skills and ethical standards to effectively inform the public, bolstering a more representative democracy.

For further inquiries or to learn about how to support their endeavors, individuals may contact Elliot C. Williams, training coordinator, at [email protected]