KEMRI-Wellcome Holds Annual Media Advisory Group Meeting
The Programme hosted its annual Media Advisory Group (MAG) meeting on November 6-7, 2025, under the theme Reflect and Engage: Strengthening Media-Researcher Collaboration. 13 MAG members attended the two-day meeting. Founded in 2021, MAG brings together journalists, editors, social media experts, and community representatives to advise on research dissemination and foster meaningful collaboration between the media and researchers.
Over time, MAG has evolved from traditional dissemination methods to active, hands-on collaboration, through capacity-building initiatives, workshops, media tours, and ongoing engagement via digital platforms. The meeting’s objectives were to review activities from 2025, deepen understanding of research through field visits, and set goals for 2026. This year’s meeting took a more dynamic, participatory approach, incorporating field engagement and direct interaction with researchers to foster a deeper understanding of research activities and generate impactful media content.
Day 1 featured extensive field activities, including community dialogues, visits to the Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System (KHDSS), the IHCoR hypertension study, and the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine trial. These visits gave participants firsthand insights into ongoing research and its impact. Afternoon breakout sessions allowed for media interviews and informal discussions between journalists and researchers.
Day 2 focused on sharing field experiences, engaging with Programme directors, reflecting on the year’s achievements, and setting priorities for the coming year. The day began with an official welcome from the Centre Director, Dr. Sophie Uyoga which set the tone for an in-depth discussion on the critical role of media in research dissemination. This session emphasized the importance of media engagement in amplifying research impact and building public trust.
The team received an overview of the programme from the Programme Director, delivered by Prof. Isabela Oyier, who highlighted key achievements and strategic priorities, reinforcing the importance of collaborative efforts between researchers and media professionals. Day two also saw the participation of around seven senior researchers, further enriching the discussions.
Key insights from the field activities included the value of community dialogues in fostering equitable partnerships and amplifying underrepresented voices. The KHDSS continues to provide crucial longitudinal data for health interventions and epidemiological studies. The IHCoR project underscored the urgent need for strategies to manage hypertension in rural sub-Saharan Africa, while the R21/Matrix-M trial showed promising progress toward an affordable malaria vaccine for African children.
Looking ahead, the group recommended expanding community-led dialogue approaches, enhancing media training for scientific reporting, increasing research visibility through multimedia platforms, and continuing collaborative field visits for experiential learning. Other proposed initiatives include developing a calendar for health-related media coverage, sharing analytics from media stories, and publishing an article about MAG’s 3 years of existence. This would highlight the importance of media engagement in health research, the group’s objectives, and key achievements.
Additionally, the group suggested that researchers craft explainer pitches based on their publications to improve understanding, and that custom training be developed for the communications team to optimize social media engagement. The group also discussed rethinking radio engagement strategies to better align with shifting dynamics, and considering the use of videos to enhance impact.