Information Saves Lives: Health Response Fund

This summer, we’re full steam ahead in our efforts to confront health mis/disinformation, both in recovering from the COVID19 pandemic and building resiliency in anticipation of upcoming health crises. More and more, we’re witnessing the overlap of health emergencies and other crises—from severe weather events and climate disasters to complex humanitarian emergencies. As our own Ida Jooste put it, “all hands are urgently needed and we need to have strategic partnerships to minimize the effects of misinformation.” 

Since our last update, we’ve traveled around the world to participate in key conversations. Here are some key takeaways from our travels:  

Granada Convening to Spark Action Against Health Mis/disinformation 

• The Spanish Network of Health Journalists (ANIS), long-standing member of the HJN, held their First International Meeting in Granada, Spain, framed within the Bio Med & Tech Talks congress, bringing key stakeholders together to discuss health mis/disinformation and develop a manifesto to commit to making marked change to the health mis/disinformation plight. Internews and the Internews Health Journalism Network look forward to contributing to the working groups to outline key actions and next steps that health communicators around the world can do to mitigate the harms of health mis/disinformation.

HJN at the Skoll World Forum 

• Internews’ Senior Health Media Adviser, Ida Jooste, monitored the session, “Health Innovations in a Time of Climate Crisis.” Communities experiencing the most severe impacts of the climate crisis are pioneering solutions to meet new challenges and protect both planetary and human health. This session dived deeper into these inspiring innovations and explored the challenges, key success factors, and support needed to improve health outcomes amid the climate crisis. 

HJN at the 2024 World Health Assembly 

• At the 2024 WHA, there was much talk of the COVID19 pandemic’s parallel “infodemic.” Keynote speaker Imran Ahmed highlighted that at least 200,000 Americans died due to vaccine misinformation. Vivianne Ihekweazu, Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, discussed how “social media and digital communications have turbo boosted misinformation,” and the importance of civil society in countering this. Journalists earn trust and thus have a vital role to play in the journey towards better health choices with their audiences. This can be done through partnerships with the various groups who work to counter mis- and disinformation. Linking journalists to those who investigate bot farms, for example, can lead to investigative stories about disinformation. By reporting regularly on the topic of misinformation, journalists lead their audiences to vigilance and better media literacy. Journalists also strengthen their reach and trustworthiness through building their networks and contacts – the best scientists, the health ministries and field workers, community health workers and health advocates must be a phone call away for commentary in their health stories.   

We’re also excited to announce that HJN members now have FREE access to the two-hour Reflect Reality e-course to learn more about how to interview women+ sources, part of our effort to improve representation and inclusion of women as sources in health journalism.  

We sincerely thank you for your donations, on behalf of our organization and the journalists serving their communities around the world. It wouldn’t be possible without you.