The Malawi Liverpool Wellcome (MLW) Research Programme has stated that one of the biggest challenges in health reporting is the lack of trust between journalists and researchers.
MLW’s Public Engagement Specialist, Rodrick Sambakunsi, stressed that media professionals also struggle to access scientific information and explain complex research in a way that the public can understand.
To address this Challenge, MLW has launched its 2025–2026 Journalist in Residence (JIR) workshop. This initiative is part of its Health Research Reporting programme, which aims to build stronger skills among journalists when it comes to reporting medical and scientific stories.
Currently, media experts including reporters, editors, and consultants are attending training sessions in Mangochi district alongside MLW staff.
Discussions are underway on how the JIR programme can help the media report more accurately and clearly on health issues.
The goal of the JIR programme is to make sure journalists can understand, interpret, and share research findings with the public in a way that is both simple and correct.