Rural Health Journalism Workshop Educates Reporters
In keeping with its mission of helping journalists do better journalism, the Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) hosted a Rural Health Journalism Workshop May 2-4, 2008, at the Missouri School of Journalism. The Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) offered the workshop to provide support and practical information, data and training for journalists.
Workshop sessions covered some basic issues and specific health concerns facing rural residents, who make up nearly a quarter of America's population. For example:
Workshop sessions covered some basic issues and specific health concerns facing rural residents, who make up nearly a quarter of America's population. For example:
- Rural residents have poor access to healthcare, including doctor’s office visits and emergency medical treatment. The poor access can be due to proximity—doctors and hospitals are not located nearby—and due to financial constraints.
- Many rural residents lack health insurance. This may be due to 1) fewer jobs in rural areas make it more difficult to find jobs that offer health benefits, and 2) low wages combined with the increasing costs of health insurance can make it cost-prohibitive.
- Because of the poor access to healthcare, rural residents are less likely to receive routine healthcare, annual exams and preventive services.
- There are higher usage levels of alcohol and smokeless tobacco in rural areas.
- The combination of these factors likely contribute to the fact that rural residents are more likely to have various health problems including poor dental health, as well as chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, among others.
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