‘Health is big news. It’s hard to pick up a daily or weekly newspaper, listen or watch a news broadcast, or browse any mainstream news website without finding at least one health story.
‘The reason is obvious: health and health care are issues that relate to every single news consumer, in a way that few other issues actually do.
‘Add to this human interest stories on those coping with or overcoming illness, lifestyle and consumer health stories, and the wide range of medical stories on new treatments, new drugs, new diseases and feared epidemics – the list of angles goes on and on.
‘Quality health journalism offers a win-win for editors, journalists and the news audience. Compared with the lifeless rehashing of press releases and the surrender of editorial independence to the power of the advertising budget, it’s clearly far superior. And if the critical approach is adopted on a consistent basis it need not delay the work of busy journalists, but improve the quality of the product they deliver.’
‘At its very best journalism is an immense force for good. It can change the world and local journalism, supported and resourced, can make a huge difference to a community.
‘Local reporters working on the frontline are the true “monster” hunters. Society must support and recognise the value they bring.’
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