22/04/2025
𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵?
In our latest Connecting Citizens to Science podcast episode, created in partnership with the Centre for Capacity Research, Bernard Appiah (Assistant Professor at Syracuse University and media lead for the programme) shared a powerful reminder:
“𝘐𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵. 𝘖𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥...”
At SCL, we believe media professionals, journalists, producers, content creator, aren’t just there to “translate” research once it’s finished. They’re key partners in the research process itself.
That’s why in the programme, journalists and researchers were trained together. They learned how to speak each other’s language. They collaborated on how to communicate the science accurately, and in the spaces where people actually receive information—like radio, newspapers, or WhatsApp.
And importantly, media content became more than just outreach. Interviews, articles, and podcasts were treated as data, evidence of how communities understand health issues and where policies or services could be improved. That’s research capacity strengthening in action.
We also want to talk honestly about language. Terms like “narrative” or “storytelling” can be powerful, but they’re not always taken seriously in academic settings. At SCL, we use storytelling rigorously and respectfully. These are co-created, evidence-informed accounts, are no less valuable than a journal article, and often more accessible.
So, if you’re thinking about how to use podcasting, creative media, or storytelling as part of your research or communication strategy—not just to share outcomes, but to shape them—we’d love to chat.
🎧 Listen to the episode: https://bit.ly/CCS_E80
📩 Get in touch with us at the SCL Agency to find out more about integrating media into your global health work.
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