Topics CoveredAccording to the AHCJ there are four major health topics that health journalists should cover.
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Future topics of importance could but are not limited to....
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However, these definitely don't constitute all the topics that medical health journalists cover. It is an extremely broad field and a health journalist has the potential to communicate about anything that they become credibly knowledgeable about.
To look at the variety of works published by health journalists please go to the "Examples" tab on this website.
To look at the variety of works published by health journalists please go to the "Examples" tab on this website.
Health Reform
This core topic for medical journalists covers the universal health care system provided by governments. In America, the goal for journalists is to discuss the controversies and implications of the Affordable Care Act known more commonly as "Obamacare" as well as to aid the public in understanding what the law entails.
A great resource to learn about this law is the short video clip created by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
A great resource to learn about this law is the short video clip created by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Aging
This core topic for medical journalists covers the implications of an increase of the population that are 65 years old or older .
The three major dimensions that reporters could cover in regards to this topic according to the AHCJ are ...
An important fact to consider while writ5ing about thsi topic is the changing ethnic dimensions of the population.
The three major dimensions that reporters could cover in regards to this topic according to the AHCJ are ...
- How scientific studies and medical advances will allow people to live longer lives
- How entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare will be affected by the increasing age of the population
- And how communities will adjust to older citizens
An important fact to consider while writ5ing about thsi topic is the changing ethnic dimensions of the population.
Oral Health
Medical journalists writing about oral health should best aim their pursuits at informing the public of the silent epidemic of Oral Disease. To do this, journalists should focus on ....
- Preventable measures to avoid tooth decay, periodontal disease, oral cancers and tooth loss
- Societal problems in providing such measures to the public, including the availability of such measures to different socioeconomic groups, the acceptance of medicaid, and the availability of dentists.
Medical Studies
Journalists who decide to primarily cover medical studies will have to deal with experts, authors of papers published in journals and most importantly understanding all the technical jargon necessary to write a piece that the average reader can understand. Although it may be a daunting task, writing about medical studies can prove to be useful for doctors and patients alike.