Health reporting, ‘minor beat’ nga ba?

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By: Joselle Czarina S. Dela Cruz

Binigyang-diin ng beteranong manunulat na si Rappler Managing Editor Miriam Grace Go kung gaano kaimportante ang health beat. | Larawan ni Joselle Czarina S. Dela Cruz

QUEZON CITY—Tila hindi na nagagampanan ng mga nagbabalita tungkol sa kalusugan ang responsibilidad nila sa komunidad pagdating sa pagsusulat, kaakibat din nito ang hindi akmang pagtrato sa health reporting bilang isang “minor beat.”

Binigyang-linaw ito ni Miriam Grace Go, managing editor ng Rappler, sa ginanap na hybrid seminar-workshop na “Anatomy of a Silent Killer: Unblock your Heart, Unfriend your Bad Cholesterol” sa The B Hotel Quezon City noong ika-21 ng Oktubre.

“[T]he unfortunate mindset, born out of decades, ‘yong tradition na ang mga beat na in relation to social services and health care, quote unquote, minor beats,” wika ni Go.

“Health is an important beat which means hindi nga tayo magtatrabahong tamad, it would require intelligence and expertise from all of us,” dagdag pa ni Go.

Binigyang-diin ng beteranong manunulat na si Philippine Press Institute Chairman Rolando Estabillo kung gaano kaimportante ang health beat. | Larawan ni Joselle Czarina S. Dela Cruz

Kabilang sa mga dapat tutukan ng isang health reporter ang: impraestruktura, sistema, insurance, isyu sa mga medical practitioners at healthcare workers, policy, governance, lifestyle, at budget, saad ni Go.

“Let’s not cover in a vacuum… health beat is connected to every other beat,” wika niya.

Nagbigay-paalala rin si Go na iwasan ang paggamit ng mga salitang hindi madaling maintindihan ng masa o mga jargon tungkol sa medical field.

“‘Wag nating kakalimutan na sources lang sila, ang audience natin ay ‘yong kausap natin, ‘yong consumers ng news. They don’t necessarily understand ‘yong jargons or technical terms,” sabi ni Go.

Hinikayat din ni Go ang mga health reporter na isama sa balita ang mga solusyon na puwedeng magawa ng mga mambabasa tungkol sa problemang ibinalita.

“Dito pumapasok din ‘yong usong-uso ngayon na Solutions Journalism na ‘wag ka nang mag-e-expose, ‘wag ka nang magre-report kung hindi mo sasabihin ano ‘yong mga step that could be taken to address what you just reported,” wika ni Go.

Binigyang-diin naman ni Rolando Estabillo, chairman ng Philippine Press Institute (PPI), ang “sense of urgency” na nagagawa ng media sa pagbabalita tungkol sa kalusugan.

“[I]t isn’t just about disseminating information… the media has the power to foster a sense of urgency and mobilize action by partnering with healthcare professionals, policy makers, and organizations,” wika ni Estabillo.

“The media can bridge between the medical experts and the public by reporting on the latest scientific research, broadcasting health campaigns, and sharing personal stories of those affected by heart disease,” dagdag pa niya.

Ang hybrid seminar-workshop na ito ay pinangunahan ng PPI sa pakikipagtulungan sa Novartis at Alliance & Partnerships for Patient Innovation & Solutions. Joselle Czarina S. Dela Cruz

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