Forbes May 8, 2024
For a while, Covid-19 turned all journalists into health journalists. Equally, it pushed scientists into science communication. Today, even as we face new challenges, from H5N1 bird flu to outbreaks of measles, the need for good communication and public engagement remains paramount. This means scientists, especially those in public health, will need to acquire skills in communication and advocacy.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, I taught epidemiology courses for journalists around the world (see my previous post for the key takeaways). This year, I had the opportunity to teach media, communication, advocacy, and diplomacy to public health students. The experience was eye-opening.
Why communication matters for public health
We live in an era of unprecedented misinformation, disinformation, and outright antiscience aggression....