How to make tropical diseases newsworthy

Abstract

Despite being responsible for high mortality and morbidity rates globally, tropical diseases are often overlooked by journalists, and neglected regarding media coverage. Based on the communications undertaken during a scientific congress about tropical diseases, this article underlines the need to develop innovative strategies to capture media interest on these diseases. Important communication opportunities may develop from the organization of scientific events that can play a role in influencing media agendas and also political agendas, mainly through making verified scientific information available to journalists and providing them with ready access to specialized trustworthy sources. This study argues that academic and scientific organizations, and also non-profit aid development agencies, should speak louder and grow to be journalists’ preferable news sources on tropical diseases topics, providing an alternative to pharmaceutical companies’ voices. As such, these organizations should become properly equipped to take on the role of credible sources of information for journalists.