Transcript World Health Editors Network (WHEN)

World Health Editors
Network (WHEN)
Franklin Apfel
EEN meeting, Geneva, 17 May 2008
AIM
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The World Health Editors Network
(WHEN) is an international, interprofessional exchange and action
platform dedicated to exploring and
strengthening communications as a
positive determinant of health.
MEMBERSHIP
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All national health professional
association journal editors
Specialist health editors from
mainstream media
Voluntary and free
Members agree to work towards
agreed ethical guidelines
ETHICAL GUIDELINES
1. First, try to do no harm. Human rights and the public
good are paramount.
2. Get it right. Check your facts and your sources, even if
deadlines are put at risk.
3. Do not raise false hopes. Be especially careful when
reporting
on claims for ‘miracle cures’ or potential ‘health
scares’.
4. Beware of vested interests. Ask yourself, ‘Who benefits
most from this story?’
5. Reject personal inducements. Always make it clear if
material is being published as a result of sponsorship.
ETHICAL GUIDELINES (Contd)
6. Never disclose the source of information imparted in
confidence.
7. Respect the privacy of the sick, the disabled and their
families at all times.
8. Be mindful of the consequences of your story. Remember
that individuals who may be sick or disabled – especially
children – have lives to live long after the media have lost
interest.
9. Never intrude on private grief. Respect the feelings of the
bereaved, especially when dealing with disasters. Closeup
photography or television images of victims or their
families should be avoided wherever possible.
10. If in doubt, leave it out.
WHEN DIFFERENTIATING
CHARACTERISTICS
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Inter-professional
International
Health—communication as a
determinant of …
Association-linked
Proactive
PROACTIVITY
Strengthening health professional associations’
communication capacity to influence public health
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Convene editors around newsworthy
events (“cuckooing”)
Network exchange
Web page
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
COMMUNICATION
Association Mapping
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WAME – Peer review ethics
IPI – Press freedom (editors)
IFJ – Press freedom (journalists)
WAN – Press freedom (WEF)
Communication Initiative – Health/
development web information resources
National Associations – International
communications
Others?
ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS (1)
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ICN
Irene Wanland, Vårdfacket,
Sweden
Isabel Cruz, Online
Brazilian Nursing Journal,
Brazil
Jane Robinson,
International Nursing
Review, UK/International
Thembeka Gwagwa,
Nursing Update, South
Africa
Julita Sansoni, Professioni
Infermieristiche, Italy
Jean Gray, Nursing
Standard, UK
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WMA
Prof Stanley N C Anyanwu,
Nigerian Medical Journal,
Nigeria
Deborah Cohen, BMJ, UK
Udani Samarasekera, The
Lancet, UK
ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS (2)
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FDI
Murray Thomson, New
Zealand Dental Journal,
New Zealand
Lethoko Tsiu, African
Regional Organisation
John O’Keefe, Journal of
Canadian Dental
Association, Canada
Gudrun Sangnes,
Norwegian Dental Journal
(Den norske
tannlegeforenings
Tidende), Norway
Daniel Zimmermann,
Dental Tribune,
Germany/International
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FIP
Alan Chalmers, Pharma
International,
Switzerland/International
Kaushik Desai,
PharmaTimes, India
Marta Morkevicius,
Association of Chemistry &
Pharmacy, Uruguay
Bill Arnold, Pharmaceutical
Society of Australia
PRIORITY ACTIVITIES
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Global health intelligence.
Breaking news.
Networking.
Health diplomacy?
Global Health Intelligence
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Making Global Health News
workshop, 18-19 May 2008
The “Unofficial” Guide to the WHO
61st WHA
Breaking News
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Climate Change and Health
workshop, 23-24 January 2008
First African Climate Change and
Health Conference, 26-29 August
2008, Brazzaville
FDI meeting, September 2008,
Stockholm
Networking
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Links with the EEN (nursing
European Editors’ Network)
UN Environment Programme’s SAICM
(Strategic Approach to Integrated
Chemicals Management)
Health Diplomacy
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Definition
Links – global health and
international relations (eg pandemics
and climate change response)
Health development and security
“WHEN tour”
Contact:
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Christina Thorsen, FDI :
[email protected]
Linda Carrier-Walker, ICN :
[email protected]
Nigel Duncan, WMA :
[email protected]
Myriah Lesco, FIP : [email protected]
Franklin Apfel, WHCA :
[email protected]
[email protected]