Reporting on health is a major responsibility. To succeed, journalists must blend core reporting skills with a sharp understanding of science and data.
Health is a subject of interest to everyone – their own health and that of their family, friends and community.
So when you are a health journalist, people want to read your stories. You are in a privileged position: if they trust you, they might take life-changing decisions on the basis of your reporting.
This checklist is based on the article ‘Health reporting for beginners‘ by Bob Eggington, which we suggest you read before using.
Checklist for health reporting:
- [ ] Check multiple sources of information: Look at scientific research, government reports, and news from international health organisations to find your stories.
- [ ] Be 100% accurate: In health journalism, every detail must be correct. Check your facts several times before you publish. Accuracy is essential.
- [ ] Build a network of experts: Find doctors and scientists you can call to help you explain complex topics. See our article ‘Developing and handling news sources‘.
- [ ] Use simple language: Avoid using difficult medical words. If you must use them, explain what they mean so everyone can understand. See our article ‘In journalism, good writing is plain writing‘.
- [ ] Be careful with your words: Never use phrases like ‘miracle cure’. Avoid exaggerating or making people feel unnecessarily afraid. See our article ‘Adjectives and adverbs in journalism’.
- [ ] Stay impartial and independent: Do not take sides in health debates. If a story involves your own health or a family member, let another journalist write it. See our article ‘Impartiality in journalism‘ and also take a look at our ‘Impartiality scenario‘ which is about covering a health story.
- [ ] Watch out for scams: Always look for evidence. Do not report on health claims that are not backed up by real science. See ‘Facts, context, and perspectives‘.
- [ ] Know your limits: If you do not understand a scientific point, do not guess. Ask an expert to explain it to you again.
- [ ] Be honest about mistakes: If you get something wrong, admit it immediately and correct the information for your audience.
Following these steps will help you build trust with your readers and become a reliable voice in health journalism.
