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Uganda: Setting a New Standard for Health Journalism in Africa, 2008-2010
Knight International has made huge inroads in health coverage in Uganda.
Over the past 2.5 years, Knight Fellow Christopher Conte has developed a vibrant community of journalists who now have the expertise to tackle tough health issues including the AIDS epidemic and health-care spending. As part of this effort, he revived a health-journalism association, turned it into a strong organization where he and other experts hold workshops, and handed over its operation to local journalists. The association now produces an influential monthly newsletter that goes to 700 health-care professionals and journalists. He has attracted new funding for the association from a wide range of sources including Johns Hopkins University and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. This includes funds for a Ugandan journalism fellow who works side by side with him and will keep the momentum going once Conte leaves.
He also works with two leading dailies, The Monitor and New Vision, and a nationwide network of radio journalists to improve health coverage. As we mentioned above, a story on Uganda’s shoddy hospitals prompted the government to apply for — and receive — a $130 million loan from the World Bank.
Conte is hosting a meeting for all Knight Fellows based in Sub-Saharan Africa to share best practices. They are exploring ways to develop a network of regional health journalists, for example, who can share resources and collaborate on stories.
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about the fellow
About the Partner
The Monitor was established in 1992 as an Independent daily Newspaper, and relaunched as Daily Monitor in June 2005.
The New Vision is Uganda's leading media outlet whose goal is to inform, educate and entertain, accurately and openly, for a better world.
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