Environment, Health Reporting Malaria

Since the turn of the century, the fight against malaria has made tremendous progress and global malaria death rates dropped substantially. Developments in disease prevention and treatments have helped to ease the burden of the disease, but challenges to reducing malaria incidence persist. Media plays a critical role in creating a sustained and informed discourse on any public health initiative, and to that end has a responsibility to be impartial, responsible and informed.

Overview

Since the turn of the century, the fight against malaria made tremendous progress and global malaria death rates dropped substantially. Developments in disease prevention and treatments have helped to ease the burden of the disease, but obstacles to reducing malaria incidence persist. After decades of improvement, malaria cases are either flat or increasing again, challenging current approaches and interventions. New tools and innovations are being developed and delivered to rise to this challenge.

In 2018, the WHO estimated there were 228 million cases of malaria worldwide and global deaths tallied at 405,000, with pregnant women and young children most vulnerable to the deadly disease. The WHO African Region represented 93% of cases and 94% of deaths that year. 

At a time when the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread rapidly across the world, now more than ever it is crucial that efforts to control malaria are not undermined. Urgent pleas are being made that services be continued, and efforts are being undertaken to minimise the negative effects of the coronavirus in malaria-affected countries. Adding to this crisis, widespread mis- and disinformation present a serious challenge to public access to accurate information about public health crises such as malaria.

Approach

Media plays a critical role in creating a sustained and informed discourse on any public health initiative, and to that end has a responsibility to be impartial, responsible and informed.

As new technologies emerge, new reporting techniques must be employed to accurately report on diseases. Journalists must be equipped to produce factual, reliable and trusted news to cut through the current ‘infodemic’.

Working with journalists across sub-Saharan Africa, this initiative seeks to:

  • Deepen participants’ knowledge of malaria and public health more broadly.  
  • Strengthen journalistic standards and enhance evidence-based reporting skills to help African journalists cover the topic in an accurate and balanced way.
  • Provide intensive technical training and unique insights to participants in how to enhance reporting skills in this field.

Mid-career journalists are given the opportunity to take part in remote learning initiatives, access expert speakers, network with other journalists, apply for small grants to support the production of malaria news stories, and selected participants will receive mentoring from experienced journalists.

About Media Development

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is committed to fostering the highest standards of journalism worldwide. We believe accurate, impartial and independent journalism leads to better-informed societies. It holds power to account, strengthens the rule of law and contributes to economic and social development.

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