Navigating Opportunities in Health Journalism: My Journey

Nothing is more fulfilling than knowing your publication guides are helping someone achieve their career goals.

Even more rewarding is having an audience listen attentively for over two and a half hours without getting distracted.

Recently, during a media café, I led a mentorship session with journalists and communicators around the African continent. The event was organized by the Media for Environment, Science, Health, and Agriculture (MESHA) in Kenya and facilitated by Ida Jooste of Internews and Benn Kwach from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).

I began my session by sharing my story:

“Some 12 years ago, I sat where you’re sitting today. The setting may have been different, but the experience was similar. I was learning about reporting on health research.

A long-time friend, Kenneth Odiwuor, had visited me with some good news. We were in the same class in high school and later found ourselves at the same university—Maseno University in Kenya—studying communication and media technology.

After graduation, Ken landed a writing gig with The New Humanitarian, previously known as IRIN News. Almost five years after graduation, I was still struggling to find my footing in the media space.

During our undergraduate studies, Ken specialized in print media, so securing a writing job was something he had always aimed for. I, on the other hand, specialized in electronic media; film production was my thing.

On this particular day, Ken told me he had been promoted to a staff writer position and was looking for someone to take over his previous role.

They say opportunity knocks only once.

At that time, I had limited knowledge of print journalism. The New Humanitarian covered humanitarian issues with a focus on health research—topics I knew little about.

Specialized writing isn’t typically taught in Kenyan universities; you become a jack of all trades. One day you write about politics, the next day it’s business, and the day after, you’re in a courtroom covering a crime story.

Sitting quietly and listening, Ken said, ‘You know what, Hezy, I’ve thought about it, and the only person who comes to mind is you. I think you’re the most suitable person to take over my position.’

I paused for a few moments, reflecting deeply. The role was a stringer, meaning you were paid per published article. A 1,000-word article would earn Kshs 40,000 (about US$310). Given that I was unemployed, this sounded like a great deal. Ken added, ‘Don’t worry, I will support you on this journey. But you’ll need to read a lot, take short courses when possible, and interact more with experts.’

Despite my inexperience, I accepted the challenge. Soon, journals became my best friends. Sourcing news, especially when you have to travel to distant regions, can be costly. But all I needed was a computer and some internet bundles.

Looking back, it was a fantastic opportunity to work with researchers from around the world. My family struggled to understand how someone could sit behind a computer, write, and earn money. At the time, remote work was still relatively unknown. Tired of explaining myself, I decided to join The Standard two years later as a correspondent while still writing for The New Humanitarian.

While my colleagues went out to chase stories, I remained a desk journalist, covering business and occasionally traveling to write feature stories. Over time, I built strong networks and a substantial portfolio.

When I attended a job interview with Amref Health Africa in 2017, I carried several printed copies of my published articles. To cut a long story short, I landed the job.

Why am I sharing this with you?

Key lessons:

1. Opportunities in Health Journalism: There’s great potential in health research and science journalism. Years have passed, but when I meet colleagues who specialize in politics, chasing after politicians, they are often stuck at the same level—lacking significant growth.

2. Career Progression Matters: Just as a child grows from infancy to adulthood, you too should grow in your career. No one wants to stagnate. Today, you’re a reporter; tomorrow, you could be an editor, a senior journalist, or a public relations specialist.

We all strive for career growth, right? To be competitive, you must master your craft. Learn, learn, and learn. One problem that affects us journalists is ego. Because we interact with influential people, we sometimes think we’ve reached the top. But that’s far from the truth.

While maintaining your sources is good, seek valuable contacts to help elevate your career. I’ve worked with scientists and can tell you they’re excellent people. You need someone to offer you a grant to write stories, educate you, and fund you to attend conferences and make new friends. That’s how I thrived at The Standard. My trips for stories were often sponsored, a fact my colleagues never knew until I left the company for a PR role.

In an era when media companies struggle to fund field activities, innovation is essential. You must adapt your strategy to stay credible and competitive as a journalist.

The next time we meet, I’ll share more stories.”

“At MESHA we remain humble all for African Science Journalism. Thank you too for accepting to be part of the trainers. We learned immensely from you. Please keep the fire burning.”— Aghan Daniel, the organizer.

The whole guide is available here.

Key Takeaways from My Talk:

Besides providing a step-by-step guide on reporting health scientific research, I highlighted the following topics:

1. Access to Funding: Science journalism often benefits from specific funding sources. Unlike many journalism fields facing budget cuts, science reporters can secure financial backing from research institutions, NGOs, and global organizations. Grants, fellowships, and other funding opportunities are available for those interested in covering scientific, health, and environmental topics. This financial support allows journalists to conduct in-depth investigations, attend specialized seminars, and build valuable professional networks.

2. Diverse Career Paths: There is a rising demand for skilled science communicators due to global challenges like climate change, pandemics, and technological progress. This creates numerous career opportunities beyond traditional newsrooms, extending into public relations, academia, research centers, and policy think tanks. Journalists interested in science can diversify their roles, becoming editors, content strategists, or communication experts within science-focused organizations.

3. Growing Public Interest in Science: Interest in science has surged, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, which underscored the need for clear and accurate science communication. Audiences are eager to learn about the latest scientific research, health, and technology developments. Science journalists who can break down complex scientific information into engaging and understandable stories are crucial in informing the public and establishing themselves as trusted voices in the field.

4. Opportunities in Remote Reporting: Digital advancements have transformed journalism, making remote reporting more viable and effective. Science journalists can benefit from this flexibility by conducting interviews with experts worldwide, covering international research, and writing comprehensive stories without being restricted by geographic boundaries. This approach allows for more inclusive coverage, reaching global audiences while minimizing the costs of traditional on-site reporting.

5. Partnerships with the Scientific Community: Collaboration is vital in science journalism. By working closely with scientists, researchers, and subject matter experts, journalists gain access to accurate data, cutting-edge research, and unique perspectives that can enhance their stories. These partnerships can lead to co-authored articles, involvement in research projects, and invitations to significant scientific events, all of which boost a journalist’s knowledge, reputation, and career growth.

In summary, science journalism presents abundant opportunities for those passionate about connecting science with the public.

You might also be interested in reading Why my health passion drove me to pioneer health journalism training.

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