Health information: Media sources and professional challenges

Journalists specialized in health information have changed their work routines because of Internet and social networks. Generating health content allows researchers, physicians and patients to be connected and, in this respect, media play a prescriber role in the society. In this paper, the prevailing precariousness in the media is analyzed in order to see if it affects health information and the specialization of its professionals. This work is based on a qualitative research, using in-depth interviews with health information journalists belonging to 16 Spanish media. The research underscores the priority of certain resources, the need to enable verification processes and to face new professional challenges. This research is part of the Aula Nebrija-MSD Spain of Communication and Health Sciences funded project.