If you write online health content for the general public, should you consider upskilling in a bit of humour?
Are Reddit health posts trustworthy?
We know that people turn to user-generated content on social media to research their health concerns, but how influential is this health information?
And, more importantly, how does this type of influence impact the health content we create?
Delivering bad news in writing: an evidence-based approach
While there are many evidence-based writing techniques we can use to engage readers to try and get their full, undivided attention, controlling how our readers react to bad news is just as important as engagement. So, if you’re working on a project that requires you to deliver bad news, what’s the most appropriate communication strategy?
How to write a medical ethics column
Daniel Sokol, lawyer and medical ethicist, has just been shortlisted for the ‘Best Columnist of the Year (Consumer Media)’ award at the PPA Awards 2018 (“the Oscars of the UK publishing industry”). In 2015, Daniel won ‘Best Column’ at the UK Medical Journalists’ Association Awards. In this article, he gives aspiring medical columnist some tips for success.
Want to transition to freelance life? Ask yourself these questions first
If you’re contemplating a move from working as an employed health writer to working for yourself, it’s important to realise the magnitude of this decision. Working as a freelance health writer has the potential to change your hours, job purpose and even personal life.
Vaccine hesitancy – how to communicate about vaccination
Had The Lancet not published their now retracted article, “Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children” by Andrew Wakefield et al. in 1998, perhaps we wouldn’t be facing one of the most significant public health challenges of our time.
Fear-mongering in the media: does it work?
Fear mongering and scare tactics are used in public health campaigns to drive behavioural changes. We see fear in headlines for online articles, food label warnings, pamphlets and brochures. But how effective are these fear-based messages?
Health writing checklist: free downloadable list
A free checklist to help you break down the art and science of clear health writing.
20 ways to assess your writing and identify quick fixes
There’s no denying that assessing your writing is a daunting, confusing task. Luckily, there are quite a few ways to evaluate your skills so you can develop your writing abilities with confidence.
Health writing trends: what does the future hold?
What does the future hold for the health writing industry this year? Are we in good shape, and where are the opportunities? Read on to find out.
How uncertain language could be damaging your work
A US research team aimed to determine the natural indicators of uncertain language and understand how these indicators predict decisional conflict.
How health buzzwords trick consumers: Research
Health buzzwords like ‘protein’, ‘paleo’ and ‘organic’ are used by marketers as key selling points for many of today’s health products. Yet these words can also trick consumers into believing a product is healthier than it really is.
How to increase motivation and inspire behaviour change
As health writers, we focus a lot of our energy on knowledge. We write ‘how to’ articles about eating better, exercising more, breaking bad habits, making healthy choices and reducing risk factors. We offer knowledge – but, we rarely sell the desire to change.
How long does it take to write a 500-word article?
This is a question that comes up often in my course groups. And, it’s reasonable and natural to worry about time. Time is money. The less time you spend writing, the more money you make. The more time you spend researching, writing, reviewing and refining, the more your hourly rate drops.
Health literacy in South Africa – research from a local province
As health writers, we need to recognise and understand the social factors that limit health literacy so we can help our readers understand our health information. We can do this by looking at the key outcomes from a range of health literacy research into both local and global communities.