On this episode, we’re joined by journalists Tara Haelle and Bara Vaida to talk about the Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) and health journalism in the age of Covid-19. They explained what the organization does, why it is invaluable to health care journalists as an informational and networking resource, as well as their role as topic leaders in medical studies and infectious disease, respectively.
Tara talked about the importance of media understanding the different stages of vaccine development. Bara talked about writing about pandemic preparedness and why it’s important for reporters to understand the connection of politics and health care.
They explained the challenges that occur when some political reporters enter the health journalism landscape – understanding that evidence trumps “both sides” reporting. They talked about the value of Twitter in helping them find public health experts and lessons learned that could be applied to reporting on future health care issues (such as health care disparities, listening to the right experts for the right questions, and building public health literacy).
We ended the discussion by talking about their journalistic passions, what advice they would have for future journalists, and what journalism organizations they would like to salute.
Notable Links
AHCJ website
AHCJ Twitter
Tara’s Twitter
Bara’s Twitter
Tara’s website, TedXTalk on vaccination, and parenting book
Bara’s website and pandemic preparedness article
Em Espey, Education Reporter, Moco360
Jen Sorensen, Award-Winning Editorial Cartoonist
Kadjata Bah, JEA Wisconsin Student Journalist of the Year
Grace Hamilton, JEA Student Journalist of the Year
Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Enterprise & Watchdog Reporter, Cincinnati Enquirer
Isiah Holmes, Reporter: Wisconsin Examiner
Sonner Kehrt, Investigative Reporter: The War Horse
Lyndsay C. Green, Pulitzer Finalist Dining & Restaurant Critic, Detroit Free Press
John Casey, Senior Editor - The Advocate
Amber Payne, Publisher & General Manager - The Emancipator
C.J. Janovy, KCUR & "No Place Like Home" (book/documentary)
Melissa Sanchez, Pro Publica
Justine Harman, "Killed" Podcast
Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic
Peter Rice, Downtown Albuquerque News
Rebecca Johnson, Editor-in-Chief, The Pitt News
Sydney Ross, A&T Register Managing Editor
So You Want To Be A Freelance Journalist w/ Pete Croatto
Monica Samayoa: Reporter, Oregon Public Broadcasting; The Uproot Project
Mia Maldonado & Ximena Bustillo, Voces Internship of Idaho
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