A well-focused idea is crucial. Whether you’re writing a short news story or an in-depth health feature, decide on the shape of your article before you start writing — this will help you focus your ideas. It’s also important to know your audience. Health content often needs to address cultural context, health literacy levels and existing beliefs. For example, if a researcher’s study findings are preliminary, it can help to explain this clearly in the article. Research shows that caveats don’t reduce news uptake, and may even increase reader engagement.
Make sure your article carries out a thorough medical edit and proofread.