#United States #Washington, D.C. #National Press Club #Public Health Fellowship #Common Health Coalition

National Press Club Announces Public Health Journalism Fellows

On January 31, 2025, the National Press Club Journalism Institute, in collaboration with the Common Health Coalition, unveiled the inaugural cohort of the Public Health Reporting Fellowship. This initiative is designed to empower five mid-career journalists with training and funding to investigate crucial public health topics, particularly those affecting vulnerable populations.

The Fellowship Program

Each fellow will receive up to $7,500 to implement reporting projects that focus on significant health disparities and the overall delivery of healthcare. With funding from the Common Health Coalition, which has allocated $50,000 to kickstart the program, the fellowship aims to cultivate evidence-based storytelling that can create trust between media and the general public regarding health information.

Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, who chairs the Common Health Coalition, emphasized the importance of truthful health communication. He stated, "Rebuilding trust in accurate health information is central to the mission of the Coalition. This fellowship equips journalists to deliver evidence-based health stories that earn the confidence of readers and empower informed decisions on critical issues."

The Selected Journalists

The selected journalists represent diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise:
1. Ted Alcorn - An independent journalist and adjunct professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, Alcorn will investigate the growing health disparities in cancer treatment between rural and urban communities.
2. Jamal Jordan - Currently an audience editor at The Washington Post, Jordan plans to tackle the loneliness epidemic among seniors as a public health issue, drawing on community responses and public health strategies.
3. Eleanor Klibanoff - As a women’s health reporter for the Texas Tribune, Klibanoff is set to explore maternal healthcare in rural regions, looking closely at the unique challenges faced by these underserved populations.
4. Lygia Navarro - An award-winning bilingual journalist, Navarro will investigate the impacts of H5N1 on immigrant workers, aiming to suggest improvements in public policies that could enhance health outcomes for this group.
5. Amanda Seitz - A healthcare policy reporter for The Associated Press, Seitz will shed light on how policies from the Trump administration impact public health, particularly concerning immigrants in Texas seeking care amidst fears of deportation.

Training and Mentorship

The fellows will benefit from six months of focused training provided by the National Press Club Journalism Institute. This training will cover essential public health topics, relevant data analysis, and the necessary resources to assist their reporting efforts. Additionally, they will receive mentorship from seasoned public health experts and journalists, which is crucial for navigating the complexities of health reporting.

Ed Kelley, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, expressed optimism about the program's potential. He noted that "nuanced reporting on these types of complex public-health issues takes time and focus, and we are thrilled to help these journalists create the space to do this important work."

Judges for the Fellowship

The selection process was overseen by a panel of judges with notable expertise in public health journalism:

• - Dr. Céline Gounder, a recognized authority in infectious diseases, who also contributes to CBS News and serves as a Senior Fellow at KFF.
• - Pien Huang, an NPR reporter specializing in public health and disparities, who also plays a role in narrating key historical narratives through NPR.
• - Joanne Kenen, Journalist in Residence at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who is a contributing writer at Politico Magazine and frequently features on healthcare podcasts.

These judges focused on identifying journalists whose work reflects not only a commitment to accurate reporting but also the potential to bring about change in public health policy through their investigations.

About the Common Health Coalition

The Common Health Coalition is made up of several leading health organizations working in unison for a comprehensive health system accessible to all. Their mission centers on addressing public health issues cohesively and is supported by an advisory council of prominent public health leaders.

To learn more about the fellowship and the journalists involved, you can visit the National Press Club Journalism Institute's website for updates as the storytelling unfolds in the coming months.