What's Next in Health Journalism?

[Music] Hello and welcome to Voices in African Health. This is the podcast where we explore the big questions shaping global health and connect them to realities across African health systems sharing directly from the people driving change. I'm your host, Sharon Contari. Today I'm joined by two guests who are deeply engaged in shaping how health stories are told and understood across the continent. Sherry Fbo Zhang is the deputy political editor at the Africa Report and he recently moderated the launch of the Africa Health Media Trends report here in Nairobi. We also have Ben Dayton, who is the president of the World Federation of Science Journalists, working with reporters and media organizations around the world. Together we'll be talking about the future of health journalism in Africa and what comes next for the health media ecosystem. Hello, Sherry F. and Ben, welcome to Voices in African Health. It's great to have you both here. Hi Sharon, happy to be here. Amazing. So just for a bit of context for our audience, this conversation builds on the Africa Health Media Trends report, which looks at how health journalism is evolving across the continent, basically from the pressures that journalists are facing to the opportunities ahead. And just to point out for the audience as well, you can access the report on the FIN partners website to be able to see the full report. So let's get into it. And I'll start with your Sherry. So on behalf of FIN partners, you moderated a fascinating discussion during the launch of the report here in Nairobi. What was the moment or insight that really made you stop and think? Something specifically maybe that even captured where health journalism in Africa is heading now? Yeah, again, thanks for having me Sharon. I think we can agree that health journalism in Africa is entering a more contestable. A more contested, but I'll also say consequence of this reminds me of COVID-19, which was disruptive, not just in Africa, but across the world. That pandemic exposed both the power and the fragility of health reporting across the continent. And I remember although it elevated public trust in high and based journalism, it also revealed deep vulnerabilities around issues like misinformation, donor dependence and data. So I think what's emerging now is a fact from reactive reporting to systems level scrutiny. So journalists, of course, in some countries are doing better than others in other countries. But I think reliably journalists in Africa are increasingly interrogating not just outbreaks, but the political economy of health, for example, who funds it, who controls the data and whose expertise counts. This includes software reporting on pharmaceutical supply chains, on vaccines of rent, climate health links and growing role of private capital in shaping health outcomes. So to sum it up, at the same time, the information ecosystem is fragmenting social media and diaspora. Driven narratives are competing with traditional outlets, often amplify both critical voices and misinformation. So this puts pressure on journalists to move faster, verify harder and engage in audiences more directly. That's a really interesting reflection, Sherry, and also pretty broad because the very fast addition of the Africa Health Media Trends report was done in 2021, I believe, post-COVID. So definitely I agree that is the first time that we were actually seeing a lot of shifts. And in terms of headlines, a lot of shifts also coming into health. So that's a very interesting reflection. And the interesting thing also is that we are seeing that these challenges aren't also just unique to African media only, but also globally. So Ben, you work with journalists globally. And when you listen to African reporters talk about the pressures that they are facing, for instance, the funding cuts and shifting health priorities due to the funding cuts, digital disruption. And how similar is that to what journalists in other regions are experiencing and how are they overcoming these challenges according to you. Hey, Sharon. Well, first of all, I would really support what Sherry said. We're facing this fragmentation in the media landscape and at the same time, we're looking at the rise of artificial, a generative artificial intelligence. And that means that, you know, journalists are faced with a tide of misinformation. You can't trust what you see online. If there's a video of a policymaker talking, you don't know if that's a deep fake or if that's actually them. And that's worse, worse, more acute in Africa, I would say. And the reason for that is that the social media companies pay quite a lot of attention to monitoring and policing the output on platforms in the global north, but not so much attention to the global south. And that means that journalists in African countries who are often operating in low resource settings, who don't get paid enough are also having this much more challenging battle against fake news. And it comes at a time when science is being undermined. I mean, we see what's happening in the United States. You know, we see with the national institutes of health. That's, you know, the vaccines are being questioned. The sound, the science is being questioned. We need good journalists to put the record straight. And this all comes in a context where funding for journalism is falling off a cliff. Now, this not so much a problem. It's a problem here in the global north in richer countries. Of course, but it's a much more severe problem in in poorer countries where there isn't the self sustaining media. So here in in rich countries, most media can survive to advertising and you have some very large, especially science news publications. But in many African countries, there's a market failure and those publications survive on the grants given to them by philanthropic foundations and governments. And those grants are drying up just at the time when we need those journalists the most. Absolutely. It's very true. Also, the fact that you brought up misinformation is this is something that we saw a lot coming in as results for the African media trends report. This is something that came up that media are now really keen on making sure that stories are data driven based on the issues such as misinformation that I mentioned. And also sheriff just looking at what else is being covered now going back to Africa. Journalists discuss the importance of covering issues such as non communicable diseases, mental health and again, health financing. So how do you see the focus of health reporting in Africa specifically evolving over the next few years. And I know you touched on it a little bit at first, but maybe just to broaden it up a little bit. And just quickly before that in addition to events and they they list that that made for example the issue of funding in particular and then misinformation in addition to that I think is also the issue of priorities oftentimes health issues no matter how serious they are seen as. Secondary issues when compared let's say political issue for example at the moment with the Iran war going on the middle is crisis. I know a lot of newsrooms where this is the priority now covering this world is conflict any health related issue that comes to editorial death push three bad. And so those issues are there I thought I should add that there what will answer your question I think health reporting in Africa is a system from let's say crisis coverage or long time systematic issues against some journalists are doing this better than others, but I think generally we've seen more and more journalists African journalists especially the young generation. And more on issues like non communicable diseases mental health and health health system to fund and run now the truth challenge is a most of what accountability and looking at who pays for health care. And how does it make the system and how policies affect everyday lives run and just reporting on outbreaks and emergency so I believe. the next phase of health journalism in Africa or in a lot of places in Africa will likely be defined by three terms first I think is independence versus donor influence then you have the local expertise versus global narratives I think we discussed a lot this issues during the during the launch of the report and then the third tier will be the the speed versus credibility and the outlets and reporters that can navigate the tensions I think you know while grounding their work in local media realities and data I think those will state not just the story of health in Africa but the policy decisions that follow. Indeed indeed and that evolution also ties quite closely to how people understand the broader changes in health systems so maybe just to stay on very last question about the shifts been going back to the global side what role do you see or other things journalists should play in helping the public understand the changes that are happening and what what do you think this could mean specifically for health systems in Africa and globally? Yes and so what we're seeing as funding for journalism dries up we're seeing more and more journalists going to work for institutions you know media relations and this is a really a big problem because even though those organizations probably have the best will in the world they're still not going to criticise for example their own institution they're going to gloss over failings if if if an institution is reporting on its own research it's going to gloss over if the you know things aren't working exactly right maybe exaggerate the importance of it and it means that that critical role of holding power and funding agencies to account is being undermined so we need people to wake up to this we need the funding ecosystem to wake up to the fact that journalism is being seriously eroded and the result of that is a weaker system because obviously journalism is the fourth of the state its job is to be a check and balance against political power against misuse of funds and that role is disappearing so it's a really a very critical situation that we're in now it's a kind of code red for our sector absolutely yeah yeah and of course how these stories are being told you know matters now more than ever and you know we need to see that what is being covered really helps help people to understand the actual challenges that are happening just another question for both of you to move us away from the funding shifts one of the other things that emerged from the report was they need to combine strong data with human centered storytelling in practice what does that really look like what makes a health story both scientifically credible and emotionally compelling for audiences let me start with you sheriff and then Ben if you have other things to add on to this yeah this is an actually very interesting question it's a very good question um for a journalist and who you know is passionate about storytelling I've always in myself more the storyteller than in journalist so that means humans and that storytelling you know putting human face to every story matters a lot especially in sometimes complex scientific or health stories so to answer your question I think in practice it means um pairing evidence with least experience a strong health story starts with I think study data we can we can agree on that credible story stories um local statistics expert inside to establish what's happening and why that story matters but it becomes compelling when that data is grounded in real life for example patient navigating treatment costs and us in Nairobi dealing with shortages we're family coping with chronic disease or illness I think the balance is clear yes they didn't give the story authority but what gives it meaning really is the human narrative so when you are a human face to the to the numbers um to the data you realize that your audiences don't just understand the issue but they feel it's important it's intact and then freeway that particular story matters so I think um you know you know how complex and complicated the health of scientific story is putting human face to it and then matching that with the data um give it a lot of um significance and also strengthen its importance but also enable people to understand without having to cut their home and Ben just bringing in your scientific uh journalism background what are your thoughts do you have anything else to add to this? yeah so um well I mean sheriff is completely I'm not completely agree with what sheriff says the human stories matter immensely and that's what it's really all about so without those you know the data is just numbers and um I was very lucky to have been invited by Fin Park as yourselves um to a workshop a policy workshop um and in rugby and um one of the things and this was a workshop about how um medical practitioners can really best advise governments and one of the messages that came out to me very strongly was the importance of personal stories and emotion um and I think if you're a policy maker that's what resonates with you so you know if you if if um for a story to really change policy I think the personal uh anecdote the tale of the individual is critical um and so yeah I think that those personal stories matter immensely absolutely yeah yeah and uh what do you think still uh Ben what do you think will be the most important in strengthening health media systems now moving forward looking at all these things that were coming up do you think what uh health journalists need now is more training do you think we need newsroom investment or is it partnership or is it something else yeah so um I think that um it's really funding one of I mean the problem is is that um health journalism operates in a situation of market failure um you know and as Cheris said you know editors and readers you know they'll go for the political stories um you know that and politics and sport they're the things that will drive clicks uh um but actually what really matters is um health because um especially nowadays you know with climate change and um you know the increasing encroachment into the natural world we're facing more and more health challenges um and so that health journalism is critical because it enables people to understand and why should I go and get vaccinated well what's that all about to realise that you know it's not a conspiracy um there's you know really sound solid science behind it and it works proven to work so health journalism is critical um and what's really needed for that is funding for journalism so it can be newsroom support and reporting grants are critical as well because they allow journalists to really take a deep dive and to really get to the heart of um issues um training I think there's too many organisations out there who um you know consider that they should go and train journalists um I think that you know the training needs to be as a journalist themselves needs to take ownership of their training if they need training they can ask for it but to all too often you have international organisations going around training journalists left right and centre um but really what we need is money money to do reporting absolutely uh and uh just finally also still uh on global coverage um some people are currently still saying that you know they're arguing that global health coverage is still reflecting priorities that are set outside of Africa so do you think then that African journalists are now reclaiming that narrative? I think they need to reclaim that narrative and I think there's so many really talented journalists and science journalists in Africa um and they need a platform we need to give them a platform. And it's really critical because, you know, back in the days of old when, you know, the news, how news organizations in the global north would send their correspondent to Africa to report on something, those days are behind us, you know, we don't want to see any more parachute journalists. And we want to hear the authentic voices of journalists on the ground who understand the issues. And, but again, it comes back to that problem of funding. We need to find ways to support those journalists to do that. We've got to hear their voices. It's absolutely critical. So we need people to support them. Indeed. And looking at the people who are now coming into the journalism industry, the people, new people in the industry, share if, if I am journalists in Africa wants to specialize specifically in health reporting today. What skills should they do believe should they focus on developing fast and what words of advice would you give? I would say stick to the news, but skeptical. I think skepticism is basically infancy reporting is very important. Just don't just report what's happening. Also ask who benefits, who is left out and who is paying. I would also say ground your web in local realities and not just global narratives as Ben said earlier and always prioritize accuracy over speed. I think that the advice I would give. That's really great advice. And I totally agree with both of you. So just to get to the final question and I'll ask these two, both of you as well. As we look to the future, what gives you the most optimism to go more on an optimistic side? What do you think gives you the most optimism about health journalism in Africa and probably also globally? And what do you think needs to happen next to ensure that journalists can keep telling the stories that really matter for public health? And I know Ben, you've mentioned a few, but anything else that you can think of. Maybe let's start with you Ben. Yeah, so yeah, there's a lot of reasons to be optimistic. There are some great, fantastic science journalists in Africa. And you know, there's really the tools out there to support and help them. I mean, AI is a risk, but it's also an enabler for journalism. And I think that can give us a lot of optimism that there are some great stories being told. And in terms of what needs to happen next, again, I would just come back to that issue of funding because, you know, the the global health system spends so much money on advocacy and promotion. But all of that comes to nothing if there are no journalists to tell those stories. So, you know, I would just reach out to the listeners of this podcast and say, you know, please think of funding journalism because journalists are a vital bridge between the work that many of these organisations do and society. And that bridge is crumbling. Totally. And what about you, Sherif? Anything else to add to that? Yeah, I totally agree with Ben. And for me, I think what's most encouraging is the growing debt and confidence of African-Downt journalism. Of course, again, some journalism, some countries are doing better than others in other countries. But generally, I think more and more reporters are combining that local expertise and story from storytelling to produce work. That is both credible and impactful. So, there is also a new generation of journalists as we said before, willing to challenge the global narratives and send African voices and realities. So, again, on the issue of funding, I think what needs to happen next is sustained investment in the craft. Better access to that more training and health and science reporting. I'm stronger editorial independent, which is very, very important from the editorial independence from donor and political presses. So, newsrooms also, I think, need the time and resources to move beyond breaking news into deeper investigative work across the continent. I mean, all over the world, but particularly across the continent. So, I believe ultimately the future depends on whether journalists are supported to do rigorous independent reporting, that connects policy to people's everyday lives. Totally, and that's such a powerful way to close. Thank you very much. Just like to have some completely agree with Sheriff's point of absolute aid. Thank you. Thank you so much, Ben. Thank you, Sheriff. This has been such a thoughtful conversation. And I believe that you've left all of us the listeners myself with a lot to reflect on. When it comes to the future of health journalism in Africa and also globally. So, to our listeners, thank you for tuning in. This has been Voices in African Health. Be sure to follow us on PodBin, Spotify or Apple podcasts, so you don't miss future episodes. Until next time. [Music]