By Jimmy Leivon

GANGTOK | Sept 7

“No Health reporting is not news worthy”, said said a leading media personality from Northeast today. Karma Paljor, consulting editor of CNN New 18 was speaking at the media sensitisation workshop organised by Public Health Foundation of India (PFHI) here today at Hotel Heritage.

The workshop titled “Building Effective Communication Pathway for Public Health in the North-East” was held at the backdrop of the 2nd North East Health Care Summit 2017, is being organised by PHFI in partnership with the ministry of (MDoNER), government of Sikkim and the Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial Hospital (STNM) from September 8 and 9.

This also marks the centenary celebrations of the S.T.N.M. hospital.

The Summit aims to bring key stakeholders including media and public health experts, to understand the media reporting challenges in highlighting public health in the Northeast and share key research areas.

In TV it is least debated subject and often stories are sidelined, Paljor said contextualising both the commercial as well as challenges health reportage. Health reporter is relegated especially in electronic media to fixed appointment for the higher up, he said.

TV has killed reporting, he said rueing the deficit of good reporting.

For both print and electronic media, most health issues are neglected unless it is politically sensitive; he noted citing the example of recent Gorakhpur incident. However, he said the problem arises because the media mostly do event report only.

Are we asking the right questions? Paljor said adding that one way to catch the interest is to ask how, when and why, instead of mere event reporting. The media should also have a ‘built-in bullshit meters’ in order to fight the fake news syndrome and other challenges, he said.

This is important in the context of health, as too many news about it are spread in social media, he said.

We have to contest and present more holistic views to readers as the issue will impact each one of us, if not today in the near future, he stressed further citing social-religio factors that do round in the social media.

Paljor however said social media must become a vital part of any media organisations and emphasising on packaging the report to suit diverse audience. 

Don’t get stuck with the data, humanise the story, was the advice of Subhojit Sengupta Associate Editor, Network18. Bring in the human element to connect with the audience, added. 

In the context of health reportage, he said that the reporting must go behind hospital report. For example, reports on Anganwadi works, the last chain in health service delivery in India could offer many perspectives, Sengupta said.

Break down the jargons, he further said to both media personnel and researchers gathered stressing that in the end, any news or report should be disseminated easily to the public.

Member of Parliament, Sikkim, PD Rai further augmented Paljor view and said that even in the parliament, health issue seldom get attention form the legislators, unless it is politically sensitive.

Amit Patro, editor Sikkim Express, exhorted the media person to report beyond hospital and highlight public health issue in a more holistic and sensitive way. Digital presence through various medium is vital for survival as well as wider audiences, especially the print media, all the panellists in the workshop concurred.

The world has moved from print to TV to digital platform, the news media must also grow both vertically and horizontally by integrating all the news, they agreed.

It will not only create awareness but led to further interest in different health issues.

In finding way linkage between information seeker, listener and communicator, the newspapers and media can act as a catalyst, concluded Dr. Bamin Tada, Director Regional Reaoeach Centre MoHFW for Northeast States.

Journalists from almost all the Northeastern States also took part in the workshop.

By Jimmy Leivon

GANGTOK | Sept 7

“No Health reporting is not news worthy”, said said a leading media personality from Northeast today. Karma Paljor, consulting editor of CNN New 18 was speaking at the media sensitisation workshop organised by Public Health Foundation of India (PFHI) here today at Hotel Heritage.

The workshop titled “Building Effective Communication Pathway for Public Health in the North-East” was held at the backdrop of the 2nd North East Health Care Summit 2017, is being organised by PHFI in partnership with the ministry of (MDoNER), government of Sikkim and the Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial Hospital (STNM) from September 8 and 9.

This also marks the centenary celebrations of the S.T.N.M. hospital.

The Summit aims to bring key stakeholders including media and public health experts, to understand the media reporting challenges in highlighting public health in the Northeast and share key research areas.

In TV it is least debated subject and often stories are sidelined, Paljor said contextualising both the commercial as well as challenges health reportage. Health reporter is relegated especially in electronic media to fixed appointment for the higher up, he said.

TV has killed reporting, he said rueing the deficit of good reporting.

For both print and electronic media, most health issues are neglected unless it is politically sensitive; he noted citing the example of recent Gorakhpur incident. However, he said the problem arises because the media mostly do event report only.

Are we asking the right questions? Paljor said adding that one way to catch the interest is to ask how, when and why, instead of mere event reporting. The media should also have a ‘built-in bullshit meters’ in order to fight the fake news syndrome and other challenges, he said.

This is important in the context of health, as too many news about it are spread in social media, he said.

We have to contest and present more holistic views to readers as the issue will impact each one of us, if not today in the near future, he stressed further citing social-religio factors that do round in the social media.

Paljor however said social media must become a vital part of any media organisations and emphasising on packaging the report to suit diverse audience. 

Don’t get stuck with the data, humanise the story, was the advice of Subhojit Sengupta Associate Editor, Network18. Bring in the human element to connect with the audience, added. 

In the context of health reportage, he said that the reporting must go behind hospital report. For example, reports on Anganwadi works, the last chain in health service delivery in India could offer many perspectives, Sengupta said.

Break down the jargons, he further said to both media personnel and researchers gathered stressing that in the end, any news or report should be disseminated easily to the public.

Member of Parliament, Sikkim, PD Rai further augmented Paljor view and said that even in the parliament, health issue seldom get attention form the legislators, unless it is politically sensitive.

Amit Patro, editor Sikkim Express, exhorted the media person to report beyond hospital and highlight public health issue in a more holistic and sensitive way. Digital presence through various medium is vital for survival as well as wider audiences, especially the print media, all the panellists in the workshop concurred.

The world has moved from print to TV to digital platform, the news media must also grow both vertically and horizontally by integrating all the news, they agreed.

It will not only create awareness but led to further interest in different health issues.

In finding way linkage between information seeker, listener and communicator, the newspapers and media can act as a catalyst, concluded Dr. Bamin Tada, Director Regional Reaoeach Centre MoHFW for Northeast States.

Journalists from almost all the Northeastern States also took part in the workshop.