Australian journalists’ reflections on local coverage of a health-related story from the developing world

Abstract

Given the limited Australian media coverage of health news from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the 2009 story of conjoined Bangladeshi twins Trishna and Krishna was conspicuous for its scale. This paper draws on interviews with journalists who reported the story and considers what those seeking to increase the news exposure given to LMIC health issues might learn from this coverage. It considers, in particular, the extent to which the twins’ story fitted with prevailing journalistic norms and beliefs about both health and news, and suited professional expectations and routines, especially in relation to choice of sources and access to material. Finally, the paper surveys opportunities for broader and deeper coverage of such news in the future.