Create and Communicate for Planetary Health

• Research a journalist’s prior work or an organization’s recent stories before contacting them
• Share overlooked or unreported information for which you have evidence; back up your story with supportive citations, such as those from the Planetary Health Alliance Research & Resource Library
• Reach out to relevant media to offer your insights on breaking or timely topics and news; explain your credentials and why your perspective is pertinent
• Build relationships with journalists by being a reliable, truthful source about your area(s) of experience and expertise

Resources: Research & Resource Library

• Write a “letter to the editor,” essay, or Op-Ed; consider recording audiovisual versions
• Offer to be a guest on a podcast, show, or reported piece to discuss Planetary Health in a more casual and open manner; if your appearance is recorded, consider submitting it to PHA for potential inclusion in our Research & Resources collection
• Prepare succinct talking points on key Planetary Health topics and mention PHA as a resource for more information
• Participate in advisory groups and serve on boards in order to bring a Planetary Health perspective to organizational governance
• Advocate: reach out to policymakers to connect around timely issues
• Mentor

Resources: What is Planetary Health, Planetary Health Roadmap and Action Plan, Stories from the Field

• Post informative content and personal reflections on blogs, LinkedIn, and Facebook
• Create short educational and inspirational videos for platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts
• Engage in Planetary Health discussions and respond to questions on Mastodon, Reddit, etc.
• Use #PlanetaryHealth and tag Planetary Health Alliance accounts and collaborators when appropriate (our social media accounts are linked in the footer of this website)

• Organize and volunteer for community actions, demonstrations, or cleanups
• Host a Planetary Health educational workshop, poetry reading, book club, or film watch party
• Connect with PHA Member Organizations and local environmental or health organizations to collaborate
• Convene a Planetary Health café regularly to discuss the latest updates in the field, share perspectives, and explore local concerns and solutions

Resources: Event planning / club creation guide, PHA community forums, Regional Hubs; if your event will be open to the broad Planetary Health community, submit it to our events listing

• Look for opportunities to speak at events outside of and adjacent to your field, industry, and peer groups; transdisciplinary connections and knowledge sharing are essential to Planetary Health
• Actively partner with underserved communities and youth by inviting them both as co-presenters and participants; ensure their voices and perspectives are centered in the conversation
• Create accessible presentations by using clear language, visual aids, and culturally relevant examples that resonate with your audience; build in interactive elements that encourage meaningful participation from all attendees

Opportunities: Periodically, calls for abstracts or sessions are included in PHA newsletters and online

Resources: PHA infographics, slide deck, and explainer videos

• Produce short audio or video public service announcements (PSAs) for radio, TV, events, and online
• Design eye-catching posters, flyers, brochures, and stickers to distribute; remember to use Earth-friendly materials and create only the amount necessary

Resources: Peruse existing resources available in our library

Opportunities: Marketing associations and newspaper associations sometimes offer to have a library of public service announcements. These can be used as filler for shows, publications, etc.

• Follow through on your creative visions and dreams!
• Use your art to spark curiosity, emotion, and change around Planetary Health issues
• Exhibit visual art, host readings, perform music, dance, theater, etc.
• Enter contests, approach venues, and share your work online

Opportunities: Check the newsletter and online community for contests and opportunities that we know about; engage with Earthrise; consider submitting your artwork to the PHA collection of resources

Examples: We Are the Possible, Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest, Imagine 2200, Photographers Without Borders, Glacier: A Climate Change Ballet, children’s books

The Planetary Health Alliance welcomes contributions from members of our network! We’re looking for content that explicitly features or covers human-caused environmental changes and the human health or well-being effects of those changes, along with effective interventions, practices, and innovations.

• Aim for 2,000 words or fewer; keep the title concise; avoid jargon
• Our editorial style draws from The Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style
• Submit original content written by you, not generated by AI tools. We trust our contributors to share authentic, personal perspectives and expertise.
• Break up text with subheadings, bullet points, credited and captioned images for which we have permission to use and any human subjects have signed a photo release (available upon request)
• Include links, keywords, and citations

Resources: See what we post and what we have blogged in the past on Medium; contact us with questions

• Identify critical Planetary Health resources, including videos, that need translation to local languages
• Work with native speakers to ensure accuracy and cultural relevance
• Share translated materials with global communities; contact us for assistance

Resources: PHA translation guidance. The São Paulo Declaration on Planetary Health, Planetary Health Pledge, and the textbook Planetary Health: Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves  are examples of materials that have been translated into other languages.

• Prepare a compelling 4-minute, 3-slide talk on your Planetary Health work
• Explain the rationale, outcomes, and applications of your research or intervention
• Practice your delivery, then record and submit your talk to ph_alliance@jhu.edu
• Work to pitch the story to relevant media outlets (see #1 above!)