Journalism is evolving, and we’re in the era of rapid-fire social media updates and ever-changing communication formats. Medical writing now encompasses much more than traditional news articles, with many medical writers focusing on styles like patient education, medical copywriting and grant proposals.
So, you might wonder: Is the traditional medical news article still relevant? Do you still need to know how to write a news article?
These are questions I’ve been pondering as I prepare to teach the next round of my Introduction to Health Writing course – a course I’ve been teaching since 2015, which was a different world!
In the first week of the course, we focus on health news reporting and medical research. I ask the students to write a medical news article of their own, based on a recent study.
I’ve often considered adapting this week’s curriculum, but I just can’t do it. Because I know that, even as the landscape of disseminating health information shifts, your ability to write compelling, accurate and accessible medical news remains a cornerstone of your medical writing skill set.
Here are three key reasons why.
1. Medical news writing teaches you how to explain complex research
The magic of medical news writing means having the skills to take a dense, jargon-filled research paper on a new medical discovery, decipher it and extract the crucial points for the average reader.
You become the translator, bridging the gap between complex scientific findings and the public interest.
Your skill in interpreting medical studies and extrapolating the core message ensures your readers grasp the significance of new developments without getting lost.
Mastering the art of simplifying complex medical research isn’t just a skill you’ll use in medical news reporting – it’s essential for impactful writing across the entire medical writing spectrum.
Your medical news writing abilities are transferable and adaptable.
2. Medical news shows you how to write objectively
Being able to write a medical news article teaches you how to prioritise objectivity and factual accuracy.
You build trust with your readers by shunning sensationalism, opinion and personal bias. The straightforward, evidence-based approach in medical news writing empowers you to write without interjecting your opinion and commentary.
Writing in an objective style shifts the focus from what you think about a topic to what actually happened, based on facts, not opinions.
Your job is to gather evidence, not form a viewpoint on that evidence. This is an essential skill when you are researching any health topic.
You’ll use this skill in writing patient education materials, CME pieces and more.
3. Writing medical news sharpens your critical thinking skills
The process of analysing and interpreting complex medical research hones your critical thinking skills in general. You learn to evaluate evidence, identify potential biases and distinguish fact from opinion.
As you research your news article, you might read the related media release about a medical study and then use your critical thinking skills to determine if the release is accurate or contains bias.
This valuable skillset benefits any communication or research-oriented role – in the medical industry and beyond.
News reporting teaches you to become a more analytical and discerning thinker, building your writing confidence.
The final word
I believe knowing how to write a medical news article is an essential skill for medical writers, because it benefits your medical writing skills in general, in many ways. Varied writing builds your writing skills. And, remember that medical news writing is more than reporting on the latest breakthroughs. It’s about:
- Empowering your readers with crucial health information
- Building trust with accurate and objective reporting
- Adapting to evolving communication landscapes
- Sharpening your critical thinking skills for diverse roles.
Want to learn how to write medical news? Check out my Introduction to Health Writing course.
