London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The Unit successfully launched a media café series aimed at increasing media understanding of Unit science through meaningful, more regular interactions with researchers. The highly interactive three-hour event was attended by 23 researchers from the Unit’s three thematic areas of viral pathogens, virus research and non-communicable diseases, and 19 journalists from 15 major broadcast, print and social media outlets across Uganda.

The round-table discussion format of the event was facilitated by Dr. Samuel Kazibwe who is both a renowned journalist in Uganda’s broadcast media fraternity, and a published scientist. Dr. Kazibwe’s presentation on science reporting highlighted the benefits of sharing research findings with media; the importance of accuracy in science reporting as well as the challenges currently constraining the establishment of a successful science reporting method in the science arena.

Participants appreciated their collective responsibility to change the negative biases and misunderstandings surrounding the communication of science in the media. They agreed to honor more frequent and focused interactions aimed at building an understanding of complex science by health writers, as well as an understanding of the media landscape and its diverse requirements, by researchers.

The KTE framework highlights the dynamic and interactive processes embedded at the Unit through which we ensure that our engagement with other researchers, policymakers, industry, business and society our research has a positive impact.

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