The SJMED (Solutions Journalism in Medicine) project aims to enhance the quality and professionalism of journalism in Kazakhstan, focusing on medicine and healthcare. Through a series of webinars, the project will provide training to 50 journalists. From this group, 16 top performers will be selected to create solution-oriented medical articles under the guidance of experienced mentors.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to improve communication channels and enhance the professional knowledge of journalists covering diseases, pandemics, and vaccinations. Effective response to a pandemic and the readiness of the healthcare system largely depend on citizens' ability to make informed decisions to ensure their personal safety.
The spread of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem, driven by new forms of communication via social media and messaging apps, instant information sharing, and new media habits such as reading only news headlines without the full texts. Kazakhstan has been one of the most vulnerable countries to misinformation, especially in the context of organized anti-vaccination campaigns.
Google research indicates that the public seeks to find quality information during crises, especially those concerning health and safety. Enhancing media competencies in rapidly responding to pandemic threats through training is crucial for enriching Kazakhstan's information space with objective and timely information.
Kazakhstan media can effectively leverage their informational and advocacy capabilities during communication crises by providing the public with factual, diverse, and timely information.
Project Goals
The goal of the SJMED project is to improve the quality of medical journalism and promote the dissemination of accurate information among the population of Kazakhstan. We aim to make journalists more competent and responsible in their work, which is especially important in the era of pandemics and widespread misinformation.
The project will conduct a series of webinars on writing medical articles in the solutions journalism genre to prevent pandemics and disseminate information related to health safety issues. Fifty journalists will receive training. The 16 best and most active webinar participants will be selected to develop articles on topics such as pandemic prevention, zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, vaccination issues, and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The SJMED project promises to be an important step in the development of free and responsible journalism in Kazakhstan, contributing to a more informed and healthier society.
Learn more about solutions journalism - https://solvefuture.kz/en/solution-journalism-lab