Bylaws & Principles

Bylaws of the Association of Health Care Journalists

The bylaws spell out the association's policies regarding membership, its board of directors, membership meetings and other important business.

Statement of Principles of the Association of Health Care Journalists

The Association of Health Care Journalists has adopted a Statement of Principles that identifies some unique challenges that health care journalists face and suggests how to meet those challenges.

Aiding those in distress

Journalists should avoid featuring their own actions in disaster zones or spotlighting the people they may have aided. 

Conflicts of Interest Policy

A director, member or employee should be sensitive to any interest he or she may have in a decision to be made by the board of directors, and, insofar as possible, recognize such interest prior to the discussion or presentation of the matter before the board.

Fundraising Policy

The Association of Health Care Journalists and the Center for Excellence in Health Care Journalism seeks to minimize the possibility and appearance of inappropriate influence from outside parties. The association imposes strict limitations on the sources of its funding and embraces transparency, independence and sustainability when evaluating whether to accept funds from outside parties.

Guidance on the release of information concerning deaths, epidemics or emerging diseases

This set of recommendations emerged from a meeting of public health officials, health care journalists and public health information officers, co-sponsored by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the National Association of County and City Health Officials and the Association of Health Care Journalists in October 2010.