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2021 VIRTUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH COMMUNICATION, MARKETING AND MEDIA

Shaping a Complementary Alliance Between Journalists and PIOs. What the Pandemic Crisis has Taught Us.

Tuesday, August 24, 2021 2:30 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

TOPIC DESCRIPTION & OVERVIEW

Join the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) at the 2021 NCHCMM as we convene a panel of journalists/reporters and public health communicators who will discuss and candidly share their respective points of view in providing critical messaging to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear how these two professions relied on each other to quickly disseminate accurate information and overcome the challenges of an unprecedented wave of disinformation and misinformation. Panelists will examine the unique challenges they encountered, the opportunities that became available, and – more importantly – what lessons were learned during this pandemic that can help us prepare for the next public health crisis.

FEATURED PANELISTS

Public Health Communicators

Jose Arballo, Jr.

Senior Public Information Specialist
Riverside County Department of Public Health, CA

Kimberly M. Henderson, PhD

Director of Communications and Community Relations
District of Columbia
Department of Health

Joseph Wendelken

Public Information Officer
Rhode Island Department of Health

Olivia Biggs

Public Information Officer II
Licking County Health Department, OH

Journalists

Nicole Grigg

MMJ/Reporter at ABC15-TV
Phoenix, AZ

Mark Acosta

Metro Editor for The Press-Enterprise
Riverside, CA

Nathaniel Herz

Reporter
Alaska Public Media
(Anchorage's NPR Affiliate Station)

Lauran Neergaard

Medical Writer
Associated Press

Moderator

Karen Teber

Sr. Director
Strategic Communications
Georgetown University Medical Center

DISCUSSION STYLE/FORMAT

During this moderated panel discussion, each side will give their perspective on how the response unfolded and the challenges and successes of working across professions with each other. The moderator will facilitate a discussion between panelists and then open for questions from the audience.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The panel will engage to provide opinions, recommendations, and assessments to the following:

  • What we can do to work better together
  • Perspectives from both "sides" on the needs of each camp
  • Examples of what went well, what did not
  • Important lessons learned
  • Partnerships/alliances developed
  • The challenges of working through the social and political influences
  • Overcoming misinformation and disinformation