Health Reporting

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Life-saving medical discoveries. Terrifying disease outbreaks. Hotly debated national health policies. Rapid changes in both the media industry and healthcare itself are redefining what it takes to be a successful health journalist in the digital era. This course will emphasize the importance of thinking critically about studies, health policies and the practice of medicine. You will glean these skills by understanding how researchers, patient advocacy groups, and government agencies use – and sometimes misuse – data to make a point or prove a hypothesis. You will learn to apply critical thinking to produce stories that provide scientifically sound, accurate, and effective reporting in clearly written prose. Ethical issues will also be addressed, including the importance of looking for financial conflicts in study funding, medical associations that write clinical guidelines, and non-profit advocacy organizations that promote patient interests or healthcare reform. You will learn best practices in health journalism, including how to navigate public databases of medical studies, how and where to find credible health information, and how to use social media and other strategies to reach out to sources and find anecdotes. This course will also focus on service journalism, providing your audience with accurate information about the medical and health stories of the day with an emphasis on finding a fresh, compelling angle with input from trustworthy experts.