D4DPR Health Advocacy Network Training Webinar - "Media 101: Leveraging the Media as a Tool for Impact"

Doctors for Drug Policy Reform Presents:

Health Advocacy Network Training Series Webinar: “Media 101: Leveraging the Media as a Tool for Impact”

How can healthcare professionals use the media to shape public understanding and influence policy?

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

7-8 pm ET

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In this practical webinar, Jonathan JK Stoltman, PhD, will share how to work effectively with journalists and the media as a tool for impact. Participants will learn why media engagement matters, how journalists approach stories, and how to prepare for interviews. The session will also cover strategies for writing compelling op-eds that elevate evidence-based health perspectives.

Whether you’re new to media engagement or looking for a more effective approach, this session will offer concrete guidance to help you contribute your voice to public conversations and engage broader audiences beyond clinical or academic settings. 

Drawing on his work with Reporting on Addiction, an evidence-informed resource hub supporting accurate and empathetic coverage of addiction, Jonathan will offer actionable steps you can take to work more effectively with the media.

The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session for participants and is open to all interested learners.

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Register Here

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About our Speakers:

Jonathan JK Stoltman, PhD is Director of Reporting on Addiction, an effort to improve the accuracy and empathy of news coverage about addiction. He is also Director of the Opioid Policy Institute; a research think tank that uses multipronged approaches to better understand and address gaps in treatment and recovery services. 

In 2019, he completed his PhD in Lifespan Developmental Psychology from West Virginia University and has worked as a researcher focusing on opioid addiction for more than a decade. During this time, Jonathan’s academic work has appeared in leading journals, national conferences, and various media outlets. 

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This webinar will be recorded and posted on the Health Advocacy Network Portal and Physicians for Opioid Settlement Equity Portal.

D4DPR webinars and events are supported by our members and donors, and may be supported with funding from the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), the Open Society Foundations (OSF), and an unrestricted grant from the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART). Support does not influence D4DPR’s policy positions or educational content.

Please consider making a contribution to support our efforts at www.d4dpr.org/join.