Enhancing the AAU Television public health programs through quality programming and accessible media content

This project aims to leverage the existing Association of African Universities Television (AAU TV) initiative to promote science engagement in Africa by strengthening the collaborations among science journalists, health journalists, communicators, higher education communities, researchers, policy makers and the general public. This project will support discussions on the state of the public health systems to deal with emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 and will in addition support the development of media content on public health data that can be accessed by a wide variety of communities. A hybrid of four models of science journalism is proposed for this initiative - namely science literacy, contextual, lay expertise and public participation. The goal of the hybrid of the four models would be to produce good science communication stories and media products that are impactful. The science literacy and contextual models would facilitate the focus on information delivery, while lay expertise and public participation would facilitate public engagement. The project will facilitate the design, development and production of a special AAU TV Program on "the state of the public health systems in Africa to deal with emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19". This program would be composed of a series of three (3) productions featuring specific themes in the areas of public health and pandemics. Carefully selected speakers and panellists would be hosted on the AAU TV - from the academia, ministries of health, social services, non-governmental sector, youth, and the public. In addition, the grant will support the design, development, and the dissemination of diverse media content on public health data that can be accessed by a wide variety of communities. Expected Outputs 1. Three Concept Papers for 3 TV Episodes developed 2. Three public-health related AAU TV Episodes done - resulting in three videos for wider dissemination 3. Three Radio Scripts developed for broadcasting on VOA 4. Three podcasts / voice notes developed for broadcasting via WhatsApp and other media 5. Promotional materials developed for the 3 episodes for sharing on social media 6. One virtual workshop hosted to strengthen the collaborations among science journalists, health journalists, communicators, higher education communities, researchers, policy makers and the general public; 7. One Virtual Symposium hosted to strengthen the collaborations among science journalists, health journalists, communicators, higher education communities, researchers, policy makers and the general public 8. A lively community created involving science journalist, health journalists, communicators, higher education communities, researchers, policy makers and the general public