Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
By David Bweupe
Professor of Physiology and Cardiovascular Faston Goma has stressed the need for better collaboration between Scientists and Journalists in Africa to foster the growth and effectiveness of Science Journalism.
Making a presentation on behalf of the Zambia Media Network Against Tobacco (ZAMNAT) during a webinar dubbed: Covid-19: Strategic Media Engagement for Public Understanding of scientific Research, Professor Goma says both Scientists and Journalists have obligations and responsibilities towards this achievement.
“Efforts must be made towards developing collaboration. Journalists must reach out to the Scientists to facilitate dissemination of their findings and help package the research findings”.Prof Goma said.
” Scientists must facilitate the collaboration by including Journalists in their dissemination strategies”. He added.
Professor Goma says Scientists must deliberately prepare brief, plain language summaries of their findings.
And in her presentation, Nigerian Heart Foundation Director of Programmes Dr Enitan Ademuson says the media is a powerful avenue for the dissemination of wellness education.
Dr Ademuson says the media plays a fundamental role in the public response to a pandemic.
She has stressed the need for the public health community and the policy makers to place more emphasis on the power of the media in shaping the health of the public.
Dr Ademuson states that the invisible nature of pandemics dictates an important role for media as the “eye” of the public. “Media contributes substantially to health awareness and promotion, it is an essential mediator for health communication” she said.
She further notes that the media plays an important role in changing attitudes and intentions, and in influencing health behavior.
Dr Ademuson has since called for strengthened relationships between science researchers and journalists.
And a research study aimed at creating awareness on COVID-19 pandemic conducted by the Development Communications Network,Nigeria Heart Foundation AficaSTI all of Nigeria,Zambia Media Network Against Tobacco and Media Diversity Centre of Kenya has recommended the need for awareness creation, sensitization and training of research institutions, scientists and journalists on science communication and reportage.
It has also recommended the screening of information to be shared on social media by national boards and appropriate bodies.
The study has further stressed the need for the public to be given accurate information for them to make informed decisions on issues that affect their health through accurate and factual reporting.
It has also noted the need for research institutions to engage more with the media for them to share their findings and help the media to understand science information before disseminating to the public on their various platforms.