So, You Want to Be a Medical Journalist?
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So, you want to be a medical journalist? Claire Hawksworth, Angela Garcia-Perez, Medical journalism is the same metaphors like describing the parts of a cell as Yvonne Anderson, and Steven J. Walker but different resembling a fried egg. Sonya Collins defends this Stgilesmedical, London (UK) and Berlin Headlines such as “Antibiotic resistance now a by quoting Professor Patricia Tomas, (Germany) global threat”,1 “Can burnt toast and roasted Programme Chair of the University of Georgia’s potatoes cause cancer?”,2 and “Cofee: Te Master’s in Health and Medical Journalism Correspondence to: science behind the health claims”3 appear in the course: “A good health story makes readers feel Claire Hawksworth media daily. Tese articles are designed to engage, smart.”6 Stgilesmedical inform, or potentially shock a reader. Former Both medical writers and journalists work Te Vestry House editor of New Scientist, Michael Kenward, under time pressure, but this can be particularly 60 St Giles High Street explains: intense in the newspaper or broadcasting world. London, WC2H 8LG, UK Here you may be asked to produce a story with Science writing is about explaining complex +44 0207 836 7110 just a few hours’ notice.7 Te temptation for the ideas that nobody wants to keep secret; [email protected] media is just to accept material already writen by science journalism is about explaining things a press ofcer working on behalf of industry, that everyone can understand but that some government, or a lobbying group. Also, you are might prefer to keep buried.4 Abstract unlikely to become rich. While many are What are the diferences between medical But what diferentiates medical journalism from employed as editors or staf reporters by a media journalism and medical writing? To fnd out, medical writing? Essential features are subject organisation, the competition is intense and the authors reviewed several health-related mater research and delivering understandable, companies are cuting back. Unless they have publications and online resources, and impactful contents. Whereas medical writers established work streams, freelancers ofen interviewed two senior medical journalists. produce text on topics defned by the client or struggle to get published and face competition We learned that medical journalism demands institution that is primarily informative or from unpaid armateurs.8 an investigative nature, the ability to critically intended for regulatory bodies, the priority for evaluate evidence, and the ability to rapidly medical journalists is to narrate stories that will What medical journalists say produce engaging pieces of wide interest. It is engage and maintain interest until the last about their field: An interview a stimulating, sometimes fast-moving world, paragraph. Tis involves delving into the context with two senior journalists although ofen not well-paid. Print media is of what is being reported, seeking comments, To fnd out more about medical journalism, we becoming less common, and most journalistic speaking to independent experts, and interviewed two senior journalists with wide pieces are now published online or through highlighting both positive and negative aspects experience in medical journalism: Nigel Praities, social media. For those interested in a new of the story.5 According to Sonya Collins, the editor at Pulse magazine, and Jacqui Wise, a career, excellent writing skills and an ability secret is to hook readers “with the stories of the freelance journalist who regularly writes for to learn quickly are probably more important real people afected by the science and painting Te BMJ. Between them, they have more than atributes than journalistic qualifcations. verbal pictures of hard-to-grasp concept”.6 Tis 35 years’ experience in medical journalism. Would-be medical journalists should keep in requires a high-level understanding of the science mind that with this power to infuence comes behind each piece. Her experiences as an How does medical journalism difer from responsibility. independent journalist soon refuted her medical writing? preconceptions that medical journalism “was dry, Nigel: Medical journalism is more fast-paced. We heartless and devoid of storytelling and poetry”.6 must react to stories emerging minute-by-minute. Introduction Target audiences are diferent: For medical Tere is a greater range of content too; as well as Many medical writers look over the fence at the journalists, it can range from healthcare news, we also produce blogs, opinion pieces, world of medical journalism and wonder what it professionals, providers, webinars, advice articles, is like and how some have reached prominent governing bod ies to and oppor tuni ties for cont - positions in leading publications or on TV. In this newspaper readers and inued professional dev el - article, we explore the diferences between television audiences. Tus, opment. medical journalism and medical writing and what target ing the narra tive is Jacqui: I would probably atributes are important for someone interested important. Some scientists use the terms “medical in becoming a medical journalist. and healthcare professions journalism” and “medical may not feel comfort able writing” inter change ably. I with such a popular suppose medical journa - approach or using lism would involve geting 48 | December 2017 Medical Writing | Volume 26 Number 4 Hawksworth et al. – So, you want to be a medical journalist? comments from experts, analysing information, When I returned to the UK, I freelanced– shrank, and I stopped writing for them. or uncovering a new story. Medical writing is working from home. I have writen for many I enjoyed writing a feature for Te BMJ on a more summarising or exploring a topic. publications including Te Guardian, Bella, medical research scandal involving a German Top Sante, Te BMJ, Lancet Infectious Diseases, anaesthesiologist named Joachim Boldt. Almost What are the usual channels through which WHO Bulletin, and Pharmaceutical Journal, plus 90 fraudulent studies of his were withdrawn afer medical journalism is dissem i nated today? reports etc. for public relations companies. it was found he fabricated study data. It was a Nigel: Trough print, online, social media, word fascinating story to write. I also enjoyed of mouth. Tere has been a revolution in recent How does one fnd a story and validate its interviewing the cancer patient and journalist years towards online and social – a very diferent accuracy? Steve Hewlet for a BMJ “Medicine and the model of communicating with your audience. Nigel: Depends on the story – if there is a source, Media” feature. He was a lovely man who sadly Jacqui: Newspapers, consumer magazines, we can go to and confrm, then this is easily done. died only weeks afer talking to me. scientifc or professional journals, online Other times it is more complicated. You journals, websites, and publications from public need multiple sources and to consider What advice would you give on starting a relations or pharmaceutical companies. Tere has whether something is robust career in medical journalism? been a shif towards more online content. A lot enough to put into the public Nigel: My advice would be start writing of magazines aimed at doctors no longer exist or domain. and get it published – it does not only exist online, such as GP and Doctor. Jacqui: Sometimes a news or mater what it is or where. I started features editor asks me to write on out freelancing for Te Guardian, How do media channels difer? a subject and gives me a brief. simply pitching ideas to one of their Nigel: I enjoy them all. Tere is nothing like Sometimes I come up with an idea editors. Tere are no fxed holding a printed journal in your hands, but I also and contact them. Nowadays, I qualifcations, although a journalism really enjoy the instant reaction and two-way mainly write for Te BMJ for the news qualifcation is always helpful. conversations you can have online and through or features sections. Te story will usually We run internship programmes here social media. I learn so much through interacting be based on a piece of new research, report, or for new journalists, although competition is with readers – this is probably the area I enjoy the event. I would only cover something that came ferce. most. from a reputable peer reviewed journal or Jacqui: You need a scientifc background but not Jacqui: I started work as a news reporter on established body. I would contact experts to necessarily medicine – I have a biology degree. MIMS Magazine Weekly – a clinical magazine for check the validity of the story. You also need to be able to write, obviously! general practitioners (GPs) owned by Haymarket You also need some sort of journalistic training. that closed down some years ago, I then moved Is there a demand for medical stories? It’s harder nowadays to get training on the job – to Doctor – a larger weekly newspaper for GPs Nigel: Tere is a huge interest in medical stories the big newsrooms that used to exist for Doctor, that covered clinical and political news. I was frst as it has an impact on everyone. A good story is Pulse, GP, and other publications are no longer clinical editor and then news editor. Tis was one that gets picked up by the national media or there. Tis is a great shame as this was where enjoyable, as there was a large team of reporters TV news – this happens more ofen than you most people learnt a lot. and there was the pressure of daily deadlines. We think. had to compete with GP and Pulse to get the good Jacqui: I think demand is defnitely decreasing. What about remuneration and other stories and the best coverage of issues such as incentives? pay deals, the ARM (the British Medical What are your most exciting pieces of work to Nigel: No one does journalism for the money.