Health and Science Journalist, Nation Media Group
Youtube Interview link: Interview with Ms Hellen Shikanda
Ms Shikanda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Journalism from Moi University in Kenya. She received postgraduate training in Multimedia Journalism from the Graduate School of Media, Aga Khan University.
She has been a reporter for almost six years now, specialising in producing multimedia content in health and science for the Nation Media Group. She is a fact-checker, a leader, and a climate change enthusiast. Ms Shikanda is an alumna of the Bettina Fund Mentorship Program, the Oxford Climate Journalism Network, Africa Resilience Network and the Africa Academy of Open-Source Investigation.
She has received a number of international fellowships such as the Women in News fellowship, the Climate Tracker COP27 fellowship and the National Press Foundation fellowship on Covering Rare Diseases, Internews Health Journalism Network fellowship among others. She has received a number of media awards and recognition both locally and internationally. She was the first journalist from an African-based media house to receive the 2024 AACR June L. Biedler Award for Cancer Journalism.