Belgian generalist channels incorporate health into their schedules in the form of weekly magazines, but they do not always have a dedicated contact person for this theme. For a healthcare professional, an association, or a press officer wishing to propose a topic, participate in a panel, or report an initiative, identifying the right contact channel can save several weeks of follow-up.
Specific contact channels for health editorial teams in Belgium
Most requests fail because they land at the general switchboard of a channel or in a generic email inbox like “info@”. Health editorial teams operate with small, often magazine or societal units. The relevant entry point is the contact form of the concerned magazine’s editorial team, not that of the viewer service.
Shows like Place à la santé, a weekly health education program through information, have their own editorial flow. Each episode addresses a unique theme, which means the editorial team plans its topics several weeks in advance. Proposing a topic at the last minute, even if relevant, has very little chance of succeeding.
For channels exclusively dedicated to health, the approach is more direct. We recommend going through the Med Tv Santé website, which centralizes contact requests with a dedicated editorial team for medical and wellness content in French-speaking Belgium.
Differentiating viewer service and editorial team
The viewer service handles technical complaints (reception, replay, subtitling). It does not forward topic proposals to journalists. An email sent to the wrong service will be disregarded.
The editorial team, on the other hand, evaluates proposals for reports, requests for expert interviews, and invitations to events. To reach this team, one must target the health magazine’s editor-in-chief or, if not available, the deputy editor of the magazine unit.
Online form, email, or phone: which channel to prioritize
The web form remains the most reliable channel for an initial structured contact. It enforces a format, avoids omissions (topic, contact details, availability), and generates a traceable acknowledgment of receipt. Editorial teams of specialized health channels use these forms as a tool for editorial sorting.
Direct email to the journalist works when one already has a named contact. We observe that health journalists in French-speaking Belgium respond more to short emails (less than ten lines) accompanied by a press kit attachment, rather than detailed messages in the body of the email.
- Web form of the channel: suitable for initial requests, topic proposals, and editorial partnership requests. Usual response time: a few working days.
- Named email: reserved for already established contacts or follow-ups after an initial exchange. Attach a summary of the topic in a maximum of three lines.
- Phone call to the switchboard: useful only to verify the receipt of a file or to obtain the name of the editorial manager. Do not pitch a topic by phone without prior written exchange.
Preparing your request to increase the response rate
A health editorial team receives dozens of proposals each week. A precise email subject mentioning the medical theme and the desired format (column, report, panel interview) significantly increases the visibility of the message in the inbox.
Always include a clear editorial angle, not an institutional press release. Health journalists are looking for patient testimonies, recent data, or an expert available for a panel, not a promotional brochure.
Role of RTBF and local channels in the dissemination of health content
RTBF structures its production by thematic units (news, magazines, society). Health content generally falls under the magazine unit, which manages both programming and relationships with external contributors. Identifying the magazine unit of RTBF rather than the general press service is the most effective shortcut for a healthcare professional wishing to appear on air.
Local Belgian channels (community televisions) also broadcast health topics, often with a local approach. Their advantage: more accessible teams and shorter programming timelines. Their limitation: a broadcast area restricted to a province or city.
Replay and streaming: a lever for extended visibility
Health shows available in replay on the platforms of Belgian channels extend the lifespan of an intervention. A panel appearance rebroadcast in streaming remains accessible for several weeks after the initial airing.
This factor should be integrated from the first contact. Asking the editorial team if the show will be available in replay allows for anticipating the relay on one’s own channels (professional website, social networks, patient community).
Common mistakes when contacting a Belgian health channel
Contacting multiple editorial teams simultaneously with the same topic, in visible copy, immediately disqualifies the proposal. Each editorial team expects editorial exclusivity, even if temporary. If the topic is proposed to several channels, it must be adapted (different angle, different expert, different format).
- Sending a generic file without adapting to the tone and audience of the targeted channel. A specialized health channel does not have the same expectations as a societal magazine on a generalist channel.
- Omitting availability for filming or a panel. Production schedules are tight, and a lack of proposed slots delays decision-making.
- Following up by phone less than three days after the initial email. Editorial teams operate in weekly editorial conferences, and most proposals are reviewed in batches.
- Neglecting the visual aspect: a topic accompanied by usable images (infographics, field photos) attracts more attention than text alone.
Contacting a health television channel in Belgium relies less on the channel used than on the quality of the editorial targeting. Addressing the right topic to the right editorial team, at the right moment in the programming cycle, remains the determining factor. A well-filled form on a specialized channel will always yield better results than a dozen randomly sent emails.
