One Health and Global Health Security Journalism Fellowship
With funding from Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa (COHESA), we invite applications from mid-career journalists in Kenya for a three-month journalism fellowship.
Whenever disease-causing germs meet humankind, the interaction follows a predictable pattern: the person falls ill, and their body tries to fight and eliminate the germ. If the individual is lucky enough to reach a hospital and has strong immunity, they may survive the battle. In some instances, however, the person dies.
Avoiding this unpleasant experience should be as simple as steering clear of germs and rushing to the doctor when unwell, shouldn’t it? Far from it. A public health response to a disease like cholera requires an entire village of specialists. Because cholera is transmitted through the environment, environmental health specialists, food safety experts, microbiologists, and epidemiologists must work together to address its transmission. Then there are public health educators, government health officials, and community health workers responsible for health education.
Communicable diseases—such as cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, and zoonotic infections like Rift Valley Fever—along with maternal and nutritional conditions, account for more than half of deaths in Kenya. The government and health experts often tackle these public health challenges through fragmented, siloed teams: public health specialists administer vaccines to children, but the water and sanitation specialists do not get adequate nutrition; the medical specialists recommend nets to communities, but the anthropologists say the culture bars the use of the nets.
However, scientists have proposed One Health—an approach that recognises the interconnectedness of animal, human, and environmental health—as the most effective solution. The World Health Organization adds that when applied at any level, One Health “can help to address the full spectrum of disease control—from prevention to detection, preparedness, response and
management.”
Time and again, we have seen that journalists play a crucial role in bringing discussions about science to the public. Yet, limited resources often prevent journalists from reporting on One Health and other science topics. With funding from Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa (COHESA), we invite applications from mid-career journalists in Kenya for a three-month journalism fellowship. COHESA researches One Health and collaborates with governments, universities, and other entities interested in using One Health solutions to address public health challenges.
Verah Okeyo, Defrontera’s chief executive and brand officer, said the fellowship represents a unique opportunity to produce impactful journalism on complex public health issues.
“The programme’s goal is to benefit not only the participants and Defrontera but also other newsrooms. We expect our fellows to graduate with the ability to report on science with greater depth,” Ms. Okeyo said. Salome Bukachi, Professor at the University of Nairobi and the lead for COHESA Kenya, added that journalists can serve as trusted communication
channels for the public.
Qualifications
- A minimum of three years of experience as a reporter. We would prefer someone already covering the science beat.
- While we expect a multimedia journalist, the fellow must be highly skilled in at least one medium (e.g., a strong writer or videographer).
- A team of three in the newsroom may apply (e.g., a TV journalist, a cameraman, and a text writer). At least one team member must meet the three-year experience requirement.
- Must be attached to a media house in Kenya. Freelancers must provide a letter from an editor confirming that they will publish the three pieces required for the fellowship.
What do the journalists get?
In addition to training on how to report on one health and global health security, Defrontera will provide a stipend to cover fieldwork for reporting. Defrontera will also connect the reporter with leading scientists who will share the latest innovation and news in the field of one health. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
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