Professional Diploma in Medical Journalism

Journalism is nothing but a style of collecting, reporting, analyzing and distributing the information, comprising of facts, on situations with minimal effort of interpretation. Journalism is a concept that provides the public a well-balanced and objective perspective of what is being reported. Journalism is about describing things in a way that everyone can understand.

According to Michael Kenward, an ex-editor of New Scientist, "Science writing is about explaining complex ideas that nobody wants to keep secret; science journalism is about explaining things that everyone can understand but that some might prefer to keep buried."

There has been a considerable increase in medical knowledge over the last decade and a growing interest of public related to health related information and its latest developments. This has created an ongoing demand for good writers who can fully comprehend scientific stories and communicate them in an exciting manner.

Medical journalism is the dissemination of health and medical stories and health related topics in mass media. It focuses on the community at large, rather than particular professional groups, by delivering health related information via well-known media outlets. Medical and health related issues are interesting and diverse and are commonly reported, as they impact awareness, behavior and motives but may as well make contributions to change in health care usage, medical practices and government policies related to healthcare. A career in medical journalism presents a fulfilling opportunity to explore any healthcare related concerns from medical, social and environmental perspective.

This online training in Medical Journalism equips you with sharp and specific media skills so as to write and deliver impacting stories about healthcare. It uses a media neutral approach and is developed to cultivate skills required to function as a successful medical journalist. It is committed to deliver to you a greater knowledge of medicine and science and help you identify, examine, evaluate and narrate scientific and medical findings, issues and concerns, with attention on the unwinding of the complications and controversies related to healthcare for the general public worldwide.

MODULE 01: INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL JOURNALISM
MODULE 02: BARRIERS, FACTS & FICTION IN MEDICAL JOURNALISM
MODULE 03: OBSERVATION, EVIDENCE, INTERPRETATION & PERSUASION
MODULE 04: COMMON ERRORS IN MEDICAL REPORTING
MODULE 05: CRITICAL MEDICAL JOURNALISM AND CHALLENGING ISSUES
MODULE 06: USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MAKING EFFECTIVE PRESENTATIONS
MODULE 07: PUBLISHING PAPERS IN JOURNALS / PUBLICATION WRITING
MODULE 08: PREPARATION OF THESIS / DISSERTATION
MODULE 09: COMPUTER SKILLS
MODULE 10: SENTENCE CONTROL
MODULE 11: WRITING FLOW AND COHESIVENESS

TOTAL CREDITS: 18

MODE OF STUDY: ONLINE

The curriculum for the program - Professional Diploma in Medical Journalism (PDMJ) is extensive, has been developed and evaluated by experienced industry professionals. This program is suitable for new graduates seeking a career in medical journalism, working professionals who wish to grow further in their journalism career, and those who wish to make a move to the medical journalism domain from any other related industry.

You will be assessed on an ongoing basis by the faculty based on the following criteria:

One is the completion of the online multiple choice question tests that follow each lesson; and second is the timely submission of assignments for each study module within the JLI e-Campus.

Your academic performance in the program will be assessed on a 4 point GPA scale. More details about our evaluation system is available in the following link: Evaluation System

The minimum eligibility criteria for Professional Diploma in Medical Journalism (PDMJ) would include either of the following:

- Any degree in Bioscience/Life Sciences such as Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Biotechnology, Botany, Zoology etc
- Any degree in Medicine such as MBBS, BDS, BPT, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS etc
- Any degree in Pharmacy / Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Any degree in Chemistry / Biostatistics / Bioinformatics
- Any degree in Nursing / Allied Health.
- Any degree in English Language
- Any degree in mass communication or journalism
- Students in their final year of graduation for the above courses are also eligible to apply.

Candidates without any science background or candidates with some work experience in writing / journalism / allied areas may also be eligible for this program. Please check with our counsellors for more information.

As a student you can interact online with the faculty members and fellow students to network and to discuss important topics via your e-Campus. The faculty promptly answers all questions related to the study in the Online Campus Tutoring Center (OCTC).
Towards the end of the program you will be provided placement assistance if required and career development support via the “Student Success Team”.