Human-Centered Non-Fiction In Public Hea

We are currently living in a climate of apathy, collective outrage, growing distrust in public institutions, and an onslaught of dangerous dis- and misinformation, especially about science. For those of us in public health these are challenging times. How can we write about pressing issues—race, disease, poverty, women’s rights, depression, homeless—and reach an audience that is contentious or refuses to listen? How can get these same people to care? In this class, we delve into the art of storytelling through reading human centered non-fiction and essays that focus on/speak to different public health issues. We will look closely at each genre, reading with an eye toward examining its goal, the narrative structure, main character, and issue at hand. Taking what we’ve learned we will apply these techniques to our own writing, developing the storytelling skills necessary to effectively communicate and “win over” the general public, and hopefully inspire and persuade readers to listen and act.