Reflections on Self-Publishing [2024]: Year Five, Geneva Health Files
Newsletter Special Edition
Dear Readers,
Recently, one of you suggested that Geneva Health Files is the insider baseball of global health. I was flattered. But given my allegiance to cricket, I’d rather it be the insider cricket of global health!
I am pleased that our readers find our journalism valuable. Early 2025, we will complete five years in operations.
This year, when I was recruiting board members to inform our strategy, one of them cautioned that most entrepreneurial initiatives die within the first five years. That was an uncomfortable reminder, but something we never take for granted.
We look forward to consolidating what we have achieved so far heading into the new year. This initiative has been assiduously built brick by brick, in a slow, organic fashion. Thank you for the journey so far!
In this edition, I present my annual reflections on self-publishing and media entrepreneurship. (We have done this every year: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020)
In addition, I share the stories that were the most memorable for me personally and also explain why. (In case you missed it earlier, see the best of GHF in 2024 in terms of page views)
Wishing you a Happy New Year and best wishes for 2025.
Cheers,
Priti
Feel free to write to us: genevahealthfiles@gmail.com
Find us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/genevahealthfiles.bsky.social
I. Reflections on Self-Publishing:
(In no particular order of importance)
Own your voice
Business development is nearly everything
While journalism is not mincing words, entrepreneurship is biting your tongue
Journalism is the soul of the business, it is why media entrepreneurs wake up everyday
Focus, focus, focus
Diversify content
Diversify revenues
Bring in guest contributors to cross-pollinate audiences and readership
Be bold: it matters, it counts
Standing up is more important than standing out
Be brutal with time management
Seek time with humility
Interrupt less (does not come naturally to reporters)
Read more, write less
The big picture matters as much as details
People want to know what you are thinking (mostly)
It is fine to take positions
Rely on expertise for business development
Make strategic hires
Look at audiences with their specificities, not only as reader-revenue targets
More analysis
Stretch a little more to lift content
Push back! It is ok for journalists to have “an attitude”
Journalism conferences are worth the effort
Humor diffuses (nearly) everything
Accept your limitations
Walk away from burning deadlines
Sleep early, rise early
Say no, more often
Brainstorm with peers
Balancing motherhood and media entrepreneurship is not a walk in the park
Finally, I leave you with a lasting memory for me from this year:
When I missed the nail-biting finish to the IHR negotiations at the World Health Assembly on June 1, 2024. (Sigh)
II. The Stories I loved Working On:
Always hard to pick favorites, but I tried! I also explain why these are memorable…
Missive from Berlin: World Health Summit 2024
The format of this edition allowed me to speak my mind. Was an interesting experience.
"Everyone should benefit from science. That's a progressive understanding of science": Colin Carlson on the Pathogen Access & Benefits Sharing System
Was a captivating interview that was timely in view of the Pandemic Agreement negotiations. Carlson is a fantastic speaker who distilled complex issues in simple terms. Conducting it was a challenge including the fact that my son was asleep in the next room at 9 p.m. that evening.
The Evolution of Global Health: Tracing Historical Ideas and Practices [Essay]
![The Evolution of Global Health: Tracing Historical Ideas and Practices [Essay]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CKFw!,w_1300,h_650,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9f2f2d3-81e0-40c0-80de-2cee3876e263_3977x2981.jpeg)
A contribution by my colleague Vivek N.D. A great reminder of why we do what we do.
"The Art of the Possible": Unpacking the Negotiations on the Amendments to the International Health Regulations [The Files Interview]
!["The Art of the Possible": Unpacking the Negotiations on the Amendments to the International Health Regulations [The Files Interview]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NCy4!,w_1300,h_650,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F90fb621b-6f79-457d-a426-5e660971462e_3888x5184.jpeg)
The joys of getting a glimpse into behind-the-scenes consensus making in global health negotiations.
Countries Agree on Vital Disclosure Requirements on Genetic Resources & Traditional Knowledge at WIPO: A Win for Greater Balance in IP Politics [Guest Essay]
![Countries Agree on Vital Disclosure Requirements on Genetic Resources & Traditional Knowledge at WIPO: A Win for Greater Balance in IP Politics [Guest Essay]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!n54M!,w_1300,h_650,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F11d675b9-2379-4bb1-8699-34915d16358f_4000x6000.jpeg)
One of the few stories we reported around the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). My colleague Sreenath N brought his expertise to bear in explaining to our readers key discussions this year.
Countries Voted Eight Times in a Politicized World Health Assembly Revealing Geopolitical Fissures [WHA77]
![Countries Voted Eight Times in a Politicized World Health Assembly Revealing Geopolitical Fissures [WHA77]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zIjX!,w_1300,h_650,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15dfbd19-46b3-470a-957e-6318941b8263_4000x6000.jpeg)
It was an unforgettable experience reporting on the multiple votes that took place at the World Health Assembly. When the political bled into the technical....
A Turning Point? The EU & the U.S. Draw Out Four African Countries to Bridge Positions on Pathogen Access & Benefit Sharing
An exclusive story, that I partly reported, while on a hike! Also received some cold stares after...
African Markers: Letter from the South African Presidency on the Negotiations for a Pandemic Agreement
One of the most important stories this year, that tested our nerves. We stand by the story despite attempts to discredit facts. A revealing experience, illustrative of the deeply political and contentious nature of these negotiations.
The Challenges in Aligning Two Track Negotiations in Global Health: Equity, Financing, Governance & Monitoring as Sticking Points
The challenges of the two track negotiations at WHO. A tough balancing act that continues to play out.
WTO Members Agree to Disagree on TRIPS Extension Decision; Misfired: When the WTO Got Lovesick
An example of misfired institutional communication. Field day for the press.
Regressive Politics on Climate & Gender, Crash Against WHO’s Gates, Impinging on Global Health Policy Space [EB154]
![Regressive Politics on Climate & Gender, Crash Against WHO’s Gates, Impinging on Global Health Policy Space [EB154]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ivEw!,w_1300,h_650,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb918fb15-5783-424e-8122-e4c78637f61b_3840x2160.jpeg)
Contending with the writing on the wall.
Re Reflections on selfpublishing, Boxing Day Tsunami and UN.
It’s Boxing Day 2024 – 20 years after the devastating 2004 Tsunami that took 230,000 lives.
It is a time to revisit, remember, review and rethink, with many UN agencies marking this occasion, UN News, UNDP, UNESCO, UN Disaster Relief, UN Indonesia, etc. and many lessons learnt applied.
A book was written by 3 Canadian doctors soon after which can help with this -
“Tsunami Chaos Global Heart” subtitled “using complexity science to rethink and make a better world” available free online and self published for man of the reasons mentioned above re self publication. A Press Release on the 20 Anniv is available.
This book refers to chaos and complexity, the science of the tsunami and global applications now and the future, including global crises. It includes sections on global health, preventing heart disease and a few pages on the experience of one of the authors volunteering in Sri Lanka 6 months after the tsunami.
Vivian Rambihar MD Cardiology Toronto