As public health becomes increasingly politicized, journalists continue to face challenges in reporting clearly and accurately on issues that impact their communities and the broader public.
The National Press Club Journalism Institute held a timely conversation on June 16, 2026, with KFF Health News journalists Julie Rovner and Amanda Seitz. They discussed how journalists can gain audience trust and navigate misinformation and controversial statements from officials while producing accessible, fact-based journalism. The conversation, moderated by Training Manager Elliot C. Williams, drew on decades of experience covering health policy at the national and local levels to cover practical insights on:
- translating industry jargon for broad audiences
- making tough editorial judgements when covering major public health issues
- building trust in a fractured media environment
This program kicked off the NPCJI’s monthly webinar series produced as part of the Public Health Reporting Fellowship. In partnership with the Common Health Coalition, the fellowship offers training and financial support for mid-career journalists to complete reporting projects focused on the intersection of public health policy and health care delivery.
This webinar has ended. Thank you for your interest! You can find the recording below:
About the speakers
Julie Rovner is KFF Health News’ chief Washington correspondent. She hosts the weekly health policy news podcast, “What the Health?” Previously, she spent 16 years as a health policy correspondent for NPR, where she helped lead the network’s coverage of the passage and implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book “Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z,” now in its third edition.
Amanda Seitz is a health policy reporter for KFF Health News. From her perch in Washington, she covers how federal regulations, laws, and policies impact the health of Americans around the country. Seitz previously worked as the health care policy reporter for the Associated Press. She also reported from local television and newspaper newsrooms in Ohio and Wisconsin in the early years of her career.