Reporters and Editors are Invited to Apply for 2007 "Medicine in the Media" Course

WHAT:
The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Medical Applications of Research (OMAR) presents a free annual training opportunity to help develop journalists’ ability to evaluate and report on medical research. Now in its sixth year, the course curriculum builds on the best of prior years’ offerings to create an intensive learning experience with hands-on application.

The course examines the challenges and opportunities inherent in communicating the results of medical research to the public. Stressing an evidence-based approach and re-examining intuitive beliefs about medicine, the course will prepare participants for the crucial task of evaluating research findings including statistics, selecting stories that hold meaningful messages for the public, and placing them in the appropriate context.

2007 course topics include: Understanding Randomized Clinical Trials, Common Problems in Observational Studies, The Limited Role of Statistics, and Communicating Risk. See last year’s course agenda and further information at <http://medmediacourse.nih.gov/html/02_agenda.html>.

There is no cost for the course, and meals and lodging are provided. Participants are responsible for their own travel to the Washington, DC area.

WHO:
We invite application by journalists whose primary target audience is the general public. Applicants may produce news stories about health or healthcare for newspapers, magazines, or newsletters; television or radio; or on-line media. Participants should be eager to develop skills and knowledge necessary for good medical science reporting, but need not have specific experience or background in medical journalism.

WHEN:
The course will be held April 12-14. Applications will be accepted through February 2, 2007.

WHERE:
The course will be held at the Bolger Center, in Potomac, Maryland, near Bethesda.

HOW:
Get complete program information and apply online at <http://medmediacourse.nih.gov/>.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Send e-mail to , or call Kelli Marciel at (301) 496-4819.

The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. This involves planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all NIH components. The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information is available at <http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/>

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation’s Medical Research Agency — is comprised of 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit .

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This NIH News Release is available online at: <http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2007/omar-04.htm>.

(Many thanks to David Young for passing this along. Russ)

David M. Young, Professor
Rural Health Resource Specialist
Extension Service
Montana State University
e-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 406-994-5552
Fax: 406-994-1756