Despite Obstacles, Nigerian Health Journalists Are "Fearless," Says AAAS's Hirshon

Nigerian health journalists contend with taboo topics, equipment shortages, "brown envelopes" of bribe money and roads so treacherous it can be difficult to travel across town to attend a career-building workshop. Despite these obstacles, journalists in this West African country are among the most "feisty and brave" Bob Hirshon has ever seen. "They seem fearless here," he said admiringly.

Hirshon, senior project director in AAAS's Directorate for Education and Human Resources Programs and host of the award-winning radio program Science Update, had a chance to meet with the reporters and listen firsthand to their concerns as a featured speaker at health reporting workshops held in Lagos and Abuja. Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria and Ruyi Communications, a Nigerian public relations firm, the seminars on 26-28 November and 3-5 December 2007 attracted nearly 200 journalists from around the country.

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