Covering Global Health

In just a few years, a formerly obscure field called global health has become a cause célèbre. Unprecedented amounts of money, scientific research and public attention are targeting the health needs of the world's poorest countries. Efforts like malaria eradication and AIDS prevention in Africa are being championed from such diverse quarters as Bono, American Idol and the Bush Administration.

The Pacific Northwest - home to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the nation's largest research programs at the University of Washington, as well as several key biotech companies and non-profit organizations - has emerged as a major hub for philanthropic and scientific initiatives in global health.

For west coast journalists, these trends make global health increasingly a local story - whether you cover health and medicine, business, politics or the environment.

How can journalists translate these complex stories for their audiences? Develop sources? Sort out controversies and misconceptions? Get a fix on whether these multi-billion efforts are making real progress?

The University of Washington Departments of Communication and Global Health and numerous co-sponsors are hosting this conference to connect journalists with the vast experience and wide range of perspectives represented by the Northwest's concentration of research, philanthropy, innovative health care initiatives, and on-the-ground experts.

Panels will tackle a variety of topics, such as emerging new health care worries; the perils and promises of partnerships between drug companies and aid groups; climate change and disease; and how health crises around the globe affect us locally.

There also will be attention to practical matters. Prize-winning journalists will discuss questions like: the ethical challenges of reporting overseas; where to find travel money; how to tell global stories that resonate with a local audience and how to cover global health on your home ground.

A "table talk" reception with regional global health and non-profit organizations will connect journalists with story ideas and contacts.


Friday-Saturday, May 2-3, 2008
Home Overview Program Table Talk Reception Speakers PreConference Events Contact Us Sponsored By: University of Washington Department of Communication Department of Global Health Center for Global Studies Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma Washington Global Health Alliance in partnership with: The Seattle Times The Seattle Post-Intelligencer KING5 Television msnbc.com Society of Professional Journalists Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard Northwest Science Writers Association Northwest Chapter, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Association of Health Care Journalists East-West Center International Center for Journalists International Reporting Project at Johns Hopkins	Overview In just a few years, a formerly obscure field called global health has become a cause célèbre. Unprecedented amounts of money, scientific research and public attention are targeting the health needs of the world's poorest countries. Efforts like malaria eradication and AIDS prevention in Africa are being championed from such diverse quarters as Bono, American Idol and the Bush Administration. The Pacific Northwest - home to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the nation's largest research programs at the University of Washington, as well as several key biotech companies and non-profit organizations - has emerged as a major hub for philanthropic and scientific initiatives in global health. For west coast journalists, these trends make global health increasingly a local story - whether you cover health and medicine, business, politics or the environment. How can journalists translate these complex stories for their audiences? Develop sources? Sort out controversies and misconceptions? Get a fix on whether these multi-billion efforts are making real progress? The University of Washington Departments of Communication and Global Health and numerous co-sponsors are hosting this conference to connect journalists with the vast experience and wide range of perspectives represented by the Northwest's concentration of research, philanthropy, innovative health care initiatives, and on-the-ground experts. Panels will tackle a variety of topics, such as emerging new health care worries; the perils and promises of partnerships between drug companies and aid groups; climate change and disease; and how health crises around the globe affect us locally. There also will be attention to practical matters. Prize-winning journalists will discuss questions like: the ethical challenges of reporting overseas; where to find travel money; how to tell global stories that resonate with a local audience and how to cover global health on your home ground. A "table talk" reception with regional global health and non-profit organizations will connect journalists with story ideas and contacts.