Healthy Skepticism Library item: 1783
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: Journal Article
Bokhari SA.
How to become a biomedical (dental) journalist.
Saudi Med J 2004 Jan; 25:
Abstract:
Journalism is the art of preparing writeups for a specific purpose or to achieve the set objectives, for newspapers, magazines, journals and so forth. To be a medical or dental journalist one has to possess all the qualities and characteristics of a biomedical journalist. All the criteria and rules being observed and practiced in biomedical journalism do apply in dental journalism. A biomedical (dental) writer who writes for a newspaper or a magazine is usually called a medical or health (dental) journalist. Biomedical journalism has evolved as an art and science of writing over a time with the individual efforts of biomedical professionals. Now it has developed as an institution and biomedical professionals can adopt it as a career. The biomedical field also includes the areas of medicine, health policy, pharmaceuticals, dentistry, communication, marketing and electronic media. Biomedical writers compose news and stories based on the latest scientific and medical breakthroughs. The stories could either be aimed at the general public or at healthcare professionals. By using their scientific background, biomedical writers develop material for medical education programs. These programs are used to teach new techniques or describe new developments in medicine. The accelerated rate at which medical discoveries and breakthroughs are being transferred into clinical practice necessitates the use of continuing medical & dental education (CMDE) that allows healthcare professional to perpetually update their skills. Biomedical writers provide the content for innovative and informative continuing medical education activities that are aimed at professionals in the healthcare community. Biomedical writers design and develop content that promotes the exchange of up-to-date clinical information within the healthcare community, improves the general delivery of medical treatment, and enhances patient care and treatment outcomes. Biomedical writers write content in a multitude of media and formats. To be effective, the written content and scripts for these materials must incorporate the most up-to-date educational methods. Examples include: Journal articles and supplements; Self-study guides and disease monographs; Newsletters and meeting highlights; Interactive web sites; Interactive web or teleconferences; CD-ROM multimedia activities; Scripts for educational videos. Biomedical writers rely on their education in communication theories to help them develop content for a patient audience. Biomedical writers know how to translate technical information into easy to understand language. A biomedical writer can create marketing materials to help promote healthcare products, or services targeted at 1) the healthcare community and 2) the general public. Promotional materials geared to healthcare professionals are called medical marketing communications, and those geared to the general public are called consumer advertising. These articles/writeups raise the awareness of the need for the new product. Policy and public health information must be written to inform, influence, and motivate institutional or public audiences. A biomedical writer could be employed to produce public health and policy documents that: increase awareness of a health issue, problem, or solution, affect attitudes to create support for individual or group action, demonstrate demand or need for health services or products, remind or reinforce knowledge, attitudes, or behavior. The past experiences of people involved in biomedical journalism have lead to the development of certain rules and parameters for the guidance of professionals who wish to enter this field. To become a biomedical (dental) journalist, one has to be at ease with science and writing. One must possess specific characteristics of medical writers. It is also pertinent to keep the knowledge of the types of writeups and how those can be standardized and up to the mark to fulfill the needs of the publication. Personal characteristics of medical writers, such as curiosity, creativity, innovation, independency, ay, and practicability are pertinent to opt for biomedical journalism. With these personal capabilities, a journalist prepares himself to understand what to write? For whom to write? What to write?
