Reaching the Media

Journalist “Boot Camp”

A journalist “boot camp” leverages the power of the media in the fight against cancer. In April 2007, the American Cancer Society partnered with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Foundation and the India Institute for Mass Communication (IIMC) to hold a 3-day workshop of 20 leading journalists in India.

The Minister of Health in India, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, delivered the keynote address for the boot camp and held a press conference on cancer and tobacco, which was widely covered in print and broadcast media.

Key Outcomes of the 2007 bootcamp

1. More than 90 stories in print, online, and broadcast mentioning the cancer and tobacco crisis.
2. A grassroots campaign initiated by the journalists in attendance to provide continued coverage of cancer issues.
3. A new cancer blog created to stay abreast of issues.
4. Understanding among attendees of how deaths from cancer could be avoided.

Join the fight: Arm Indian journalists with information & techniques.

There is a waitlist of journalists to attend another boot camp in India. If you are interested in sponsoring a journalist boot camp or other activities in India, please send an email to ACSIndiaInitiative@cancer.org