The first topic in this lesson is aimed at helping you, as a journalist, to “think like a scientist”.
Science and journalism
Consider this: journalists and scientists actually have a lot in common. The processes they use may be called by different names, but in essence, one can identify striking similarities between the work of science and the work of truth-telling in journalism.
For example, take a look at how the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) compares the work of journalists and epidemiologists (who are scientists that study the incidence, distribution, and possible control of diseases):
“Students of journalism are taught that a good news story, whether it be about a bank robbery, dramatic rescue, or presidential candidate’s speech, must include the 5 W’s: what, who, where, when and why (sometimes cited as why/how). The 5 W’s are the essential components of a news story because if any of the five are missing, the story is incomplete.
The same is true in characterizing epidemiologic events, whether it be an outbreak of norovirus among cruise ship passengers or the use of mammograms to detect early breast cancer. The difference is that epidemiologists tend to use synonyms for the 5 W’s: diagnosis or health event (what), person (who), place (where), time (when), and causes, risk factors, and modes of transmission (why/how).”
Consider what else a health journalist and an epidemiologist might have in common:
- SPECIALIZATION – Each has spent time studying and practicing their field, according to the norms of standards required.
- Most of them must CARE about people’s wellbeing, otherwise they would not spend so many years studying a subject and practicing in the field, or they would not choose to write health stories.
- They have to COMMUNICATE their findings – scientists in academic journals and journalists in popular publications, both with the purpose that knowledge must be more widely known.
We invite you to keep the above similarities in mind, as you proceed through the rest of this topic – which is designed to introduce you to some more science-specific terms and processes, related to reporting on HIV Prevention!