The eighth annual holiday party for the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Association of Health Care Journalists hosted reporters alongside a record number of public affairs officials from government agencies.
About 20 spokespeople were in attendance, representing the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, the Indian Health Service, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Administration for Community Living, and the Health Resources and Services Administration. The event gave reporters an opportunity to meet officials in person and to talk about story ideas in a social setting.
The event was hosted Dec. 11 at the Washington, D.C., offices of USA Today, and more than 80 people attended. News organizations represented included Kaiser Health News, The Hill, The New York Times, Politico and Stat, and many independent journalists attended, as wel.
Attendees sipped on wine, beer, and sparkling cider, and enjoyed Mediterranean fare, cheese, dips and cookies. Food and beverages were paid for by AHCJ and contributions also were accepted from people who attended the event.
The event was organized by Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner, Tina Reed of FierceHealthcare, and Jayne O’Donnell of USA Today.
