Health Journalism 2011: Start planning your schedule

Highlights from what's coming up in Philadelphia include:
• Workshops on mapping, covering medical studies and adding multimedia elements to your stories.
• Separate Newsmaker Briefings with CMS Administrator Donald M. Berwick and NIH Director Francis S. Collins
• Receptions so you can catch up with your colleagues.
• Presentation of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism, featuring keynote speaker G. Michael Lemole, M.D., who treated Rep. U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot in Tucson.
• Panels on health reform and insurance, localizing national investigations, insurance, health information technology, fraud in scientific research, pharmaceutical issues, autism, infections, HIV/AIDS, backgrounding health professionals, food safety and more.
• Popular favorites include how-to panels with the latest information on hospital finance and quality, as well as best practices in blogging and social media.
• Special events planned for freelancers included the annual Freelance PitchFest, panels on what editors wish writers knew, spotting under-tapped markets, handling contracts and protecting yourself legally, as well as an informal session on business issues.

Take a look at the variety of topics to be covered at the best annual training event in health journalism, then register and make your hotel reservations.

Be a mentor at Health Journalism 2011

Are you an experienced health care reporter or editor willing to share what you’ve learned over the years? We are looking for experienced members planning to attend Health Journalism 2011 who would be willing to sit down and talk with journalists who are newer to health journalism. Read more about how to be a mentor. (We'll put out a call for those who want a mentor soon.)

Member benefit:
Articles by journalists, for journalists

Members and other journalists write articles specifically for AHCJ about how they have reported particular stories, issues that our members are likely to cover and other important topics. Learn tips on investigative reporting, find out how to report on medical errors, how to use data to report on health care and much more. The articles we feature carry expert advice from top journalists.

Covering Europe:
Changes in health care may be coming to Ireland

Ireland's latest election might lead to the adoption of a universal health care model that prioritises medical care by need rather than by ability to pay, according to Murius Houston, a medical journalist and health analyst in that country.

Trudy Lieberman explains that what's happening in Ireland is similar to what's happening in the United States where insurers have raised their premiums. A year ago the 39 percent increase announced by Anthem in California helped push health reform to the finish line when outraged policyholders and public officials flocked to the press to tell their stories.

Are you reading AHCJ's Covering Health blog?

If not, you're missing out. "Covering Health" features news about health journalists and the business, significant health news and well-reported stories, tools and resources to help journalists and much more. The blog is updated during the week, with more frequent updates when there is breaking health news. Now, more than ever, AHCJ is committed to helping keep journalists who report on health and health care issues informed about the latest news in the field and connected with colleagues.

Some recent posts:
 Gates’ funding of journalism raises ethical questions
 Being precise about screening vs. diagnostic tests
 AHCJ member publishes book on love, biochemistry
 Wash. hospital executive salaries may threaten nonprofit status

Contact us
Visit healthjournalism.org, call us at 573-884-5606 or e-mail us at info@healthjournalism.org.