While the debate over healthcare is still the hot topic among most news outlets, many other health-related issues such as HIV/AIDS are buried.
Richmond Times-Dispatch health writer, Tammie Smith unearths those stories in many of her articles. Her two most recent articles, for example, were about Richmond’s hunt for HIV vaccines and new medications to allow people to live longer with HIV.
Smith’s work mirrors minorities, the uninsured and special interests in women’s health locally and regionally. She covers healthcare on a broad spectrum from health insurance, consumer health issues and trends, medical advancements, research and other topics.
What makes Smith’s health column in the Richmond Times-Dispatch so unique and interesting is that she writes from a consumer perspective. She doesn’t regurgitate research and information into her articles, but answers the question, “what does this really mean?”
According to Dr. Michael Welch, the program manager for Community Health Services, Smith is an effective writer because “she is able to understand the role of public health and has come to understand the role of the entire public health system.”
Smith is “inquisitive and it plays in her favor.” Her profession allows her to “deal with large masses of people,” says Dr. Welch.
Now her years of experience have put Smith in a place where she can visit and share with aspiring journalist her tools for success.
As the guest speaker for a Beat Reporting class at Virginia Commonwealth University, Smith gave tips about how to find sources in the health care field.
Smith explained how some examples of health care sources or possible hitches can be found in everyday conversations, personal injuries, through co-workers, doctors, public relations people, what’s in the news, and attending community events.
Just by attending community events, you don’t have to necessarily find stories, but “stories sometimes find you,” says Smith.
There are numerous of technical terms when covering medical and health stories. Smith encouraged students as health reporters to ask questions for understanding when interviewing medical and healthcare experts.
Other than medical jargon, Tammie Smith believes medical and health reporting is no different than any other beat.
She reminds students the importance of being versatile in the converging media world. She explained how to translate print stories into online stories and the weight each medium carries. Smith also encouraged the student to be open and willing to report other beat besides the one they are assigned.
Smith expects to graduate this fall with a Master’s degree in public health, graduated in 1983 from Old Dominion University with a B.A. in Speech Communication and a minor in journalism and mass communications. She also completed courses at the Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn.
Smith was a reporter for the Journal and Guide in Norfolk, Va. for four years, the Tennessean in Nashville, Tenn. for 13 years, and has been with the Richmond Times-Dispatch since 2000.
Smith’s skills go beyond writing just for medical and public health. She also writes features for special health science, environment, and the technology section healthy lifestyles and products. During her tenure at the Tennessean, she covered several beats such as legislation issues and government.
Tammie Smith’s wisdom and advice left the students enthusiastic about the subject and ready to tackle future assignments for their class.
Richmond Times-Dispatch health writer, Tammie Smith unearths those stories in many of her articles. Her two most recent articles, for example, were about Richmond’s hunt for HIV vaccines and new medications to allow people to live longer with HIV.
Smith’s work mirrors minorities, the uninsured and special interests in women’s health locally and regionally. She covers healthcare on a broad spectrum from health insurance, consumer health issues and trends, medical advancements, research and other topics.
What makes Smith’s health column in the Richmond Times-Dispatch so unique and interesting is that she writes from a consumer perspective. She doesn’t regurgitate research and information into her articles, but answers the question, “what does this really mean?”
According to Dr. Michael Welch, the program manager for Community Health Services, Smith is an effective writer because “she is able to understand the role of public health and has come to understand the role of the entire public health system.”
Smith is “inquisitive and it plays in her favor.” Her profession allows her to “deal with large masses of people,” says Dr. Welch.
Now her years of experience have put Smith in a place where she can visit and share with aspiring journalist her tools for success.
As the guest speaker for a Beat Reporting class at Virginia Commonwealth University, Smith gave tips about how to find sources in the health care field.
Smith explained how some examples of health care sources or possible hitches can be found in everyday conversations, personal injuries, through co-workers, doctors, public relations people, what’s in the news, and attending community events.
Just by attending community events, you don’t have to necessarily find stories, but “stories sometimes find you,” says Smith.
There are numerous of technical terms when covering medical and health stories. Smith encouraged students as health reporters to ask questions for understanding when interviewing medical and healthcare experts.
Other than medical jargon, Tammie Smith believes medical and health reporting is no different than any other beat.
She reminds students the importance of being versatile in the converging media world. She explained how to translate print stories into online stories and the weight each medium carries. Smith also encouraged the student to be open and willing to report other beat besides the one they are assigned.
Smith expects to graduate this fall with a Master’s degree in public health, graduated in 1983 from Old Dominion University with a B.A. in Speech Communication and a minor in journalism and mass communications. She also completed courses at the Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn.
Smith was a reporter for the Journal and Guide in Norfolk, Va. for four years, the Tennessean in Nashville, Tenn. for 13 years, and has been with the Richmond Times-Dispatch since 2000.
Smith’s skills go beyond writing just for medical and public health. She also writes features for special health science, environment, and the technology section healthy lifestyles and products. During her tenure at the Tennessean, she covered several beats such as legislation issues and government.
Tammie Smith’s wisdom and advice left the students enthusiastic about the subject and ready to tackle future assignments for their class.
