World Health Editors Network (WHEN)

World Health Editors World Health Editors Network (WHEN)Network (WHEN)

Franklin ApfelFranklin Apfel

EEN meeting, Geneva, 17 May 2008EEN meeting, Geneva, 17 May 2008

AIMAIM

The World Health Editors Network (WHEN) is an international, inter-professional exchange and action platform dedicated to exploring and strengthening communications as a positive determinant of health.

MEMBERSHIPMEMBERSHIP

All national health professional association journal editors

Specialist health editors from mainstream media

Voluntary and free Members agree to work towards

agreed ethical guidelines

ETHICAL GUIDELINESETHICAL GUIDELINES1. First, try to do no harm. Human rights and the publicgood are paramount.2. Get it right. Check your facts and your sources, even ifdeadlines are put at risk.3. Do not raise false hopes. Be especially careful when

reportingon claims for ‘miracle cures’ or potential ‘healthscares’.4. Beware of vested interests. Ask yourself, ‘Who benefitsmost from this story?’5. Reject personal inducements. Always make it clear if

material is being published as a result of sponsorship.

ETHICAL GUIDELINES (Contd)ETHICAL GUIDELINES (Contd)6. Never disclose the source of information imparted in

confidence.7. Respect the privacy of the sick, the disabled and theirfamilies at all times.8. Be mindful of the consequences of your story. Rememberthat individuals who may be sick or disabled – especiallychildren – have lives to live long after the media have lostinterest.9. Never intrude on private grief. Respect the feelings of thebereaved, especially when dealing with disasters. Closeupphotography or television images of victims or theirfamilies should be avoided wherever possible.10. If in doubt, leave it out.

WHEN DIFFERENTIATING WHEN DIFFERENTIATING CHARACTERISTICSCHARACTERISTICS

Inter-professionalInter-professional InternationalInternational Health—communication as a Health—communication as a

determinant of …determinant of … Association-linkedAssociation-linked ProactiveProactive

PROACTIVITYPROACTIVITYStrengthening health professional associations’ Strengthening health professional associations’

communication capacity to influence public healthcommunication capacity to influence public health

Convene editors around newsworthy Convene editors around newsworthy events (“cuckooing”)events (“cuckooing”)

Network exchangeNetwork exchange Web pageWeb page

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH INTERNATIONAL HEALTH COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION Association MappingAssociation Mapping

WAME – Peer review ethicsWAME – Peer review ethics IPI – Press freedom (editors)IPI – Press freedom (editors) IFJ – Press freedom (journalists)IFJ – Press freedom (journalists) WAN – Press freedom (WEF)WAN – Press freedom (WEF) Communication Initiative – Health/ Communication Initiative – Health/

development web information resourcesdevelopment web information resources National Associations – International National Associations – International

communicationscommunications Others?Others?

ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS (1)ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS (1)

ICNICN Irene Wanland, Vårdfacket, Irene Wanland, Vårdfacket,

SwedenSweden Isabel Cruz, Online Isabel Cruz, Online

Brazilian Nursing Journal, Brazilian Nursing Journal, BrazilBrazil

Jane Robinson, Jane Robinson, International Nursing International Nursing Review, UK/InternationalReview, UK/International

Thembeka Gwagwa, Thembeka Gwagwa, Nursing Update, South Nursing Update, South AfricaAfrica

Julita Sansoni, Professioni Julita Sansoni, Professioni Infermieristiche, ItalyInfermieristiche, Italy

Jean Gray, Nursing Jean Gray, Nursing Standard, UKStandard, UK

WMAWMA Prof Stanley N C Anyanwu, Prof Stanley N C Anyanwu,

Nigerian Medical Journal, Nigerian Medical Journal, NigeriaNigeria

Deborah Cohen, BMJ, UKDeborah Cohen, BMJ, UK Udani SamarasekeraUdani Samarasekera, The , The

Lancet, UKLancet, UK

ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS (2)ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS (2)FDIFDI

Murray Thomson, New Murray Thomson, New Zealand Dental Journal, Zealand Dental Journal, New ZealandNew Zealand

Lethoko Tsiu, African Lethoko Tsiu, African Regional OrganisationRegional Organisation

John O’Keefe, Journal of John O’Keefe, Journal of Canadian Dental Canadian Dental Association, CanadaAssociation, Canada

Gudrun Sangnes, Gudrun Sangnes, Norwegian Dental Journal Norwegian Dental Journal (Den norske (Den norske tannlegeforenings tannlegeforenings Tidende), NorwayTidende), Norway

Daniel Zimmermann, Daniel Zimmermann, Dental Tribune, Dental Tribune, Germany/InternationalGermany/International

FIPFIP Alan Chalmers, Pharma Alan Chalmers, Pharma

International, International, Switzerland/InternationalSwitzerland/International

Kaushik Desai, Kaushik Desai, PharmaTimes, IndiaPharmaTimes, India

Marta Morkevicius, Marta Morkevicius, Association of Chemistry & Association of Chemistry & Pharmacy, UruguayPharmacy, Uruguay

Bill Arnold, Pharmaceutical Bill Arnold, Pharmaceutical Society of AustraliaSociety of Australia

PRIORITY ACTIVITIESPRIORITY ACTIVITIES

Global health intelligence. Global health intelligence. Breaking news.Breaking news. Networking.Networking. Health diplomacy?Health diplomacy?

Global Health IntelligenceGlobal Health Intelligence

Making Global Health News Making Global Health News workshop, 18-19 May 2008workshop, 18-19 May 2008

The “Unofficial” Guide to the WHO The “Unofficial” Guide to the WHO 6161stst WHA WHA

Breaking NewsBreaking News

Climate Change and Health Climate Change and Health workshop, 23-24 January 2008workshop, 23-24 January 2008

First African Climate Change and First African Climate Change and Health Conference, 26-29 August Health Conference, 26-29 August 2008, Brazzaville2008, Brazzaville

FDI meeting, September 2008, FDI meeting, September 2008, StockholmStockholm

NetworkingNetworking

Links with the EEN (nursing European Links with the EEN (nursing European Editors’ Network)Editors’ Network)

UN Environment Programme’s SAICM UN Environment Programme’s SAICM (Strategic Approach to Integrated (Strategic Approach to Integrated Chemicals Management)Chemicals Management)

Health DiplomacyHealth Diplomacy

DefinitionDefinition Links – global health and Links – global health and

international relations (eg pandemics international relations (eg pandemics and climate change response)and climate change response)

Health development and securityHealth development and security ““WHEN tour”WHEN tour”

Contact:Contact:

Christina Thorsen, FDI : Christina Thorsen, FDI : [email protected]@fdiworldental.org

Linda Carrier-Walker, ICN : Linda Carrier-Walker, ICN : [email protected]@icn.ch

Nigel Duncan, WMA : Nigel Duncan, WMA : [email protected]@ndcommunications.co.uk

Myriah Lesco, FIP : [email protected] Lesco, FIP : [email protected] Franklin Apfel, WHCA : Franklin Apfel, WHCA :

[email protected]@whcaonline.org [email protected] [email protected]