Science and Health Journalists in the Health Communication Continuum: Working towards Improved Skills and Capacities in South Africa and Namibia

The recognition of the role of science and health reporters in the value chain of social and behavioural change communication continues to gain momentum in Africa. Recent developments in health information access have shown that health and science reporters play an important role in bridging the gap between ‘the voice of science’, the ‘voice of the state’ and the public who have to use the information in decision-making.

The recognition of the role of science and health reporters in the value chain of social and behavioural change communication continues to gain momentum in Africa. Recent developments in health information access have shown that health and science reporters play an important role in bridging the gap between ‘the voice of science’, the ‘voice of the state’ and the public who have to use the information in decision-making. This science communication role requires specific capacities and capabilities to repurpose and contextualise messaging and to disaggregate communication tools and platforms to reach different audiences. Although they are such important health communication stakeholders, their actual place in the health communication continuum continues to be mostly misunderstood and overlooked. This poses challenges for them in accessing the appropriate skills and capacity-building opportunities. Using a qualitative approach, this chapter explores the systemic and capacity challenges of science and health reporters during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in South Africa and Namibia. The chapter argues that understanding the capacity and capability needs of science and health journalists is the starting point towards skills enhancement and more effective science and health journalism.