Jesse Copelyn

I am a DPhil student in the Oxford Department of International Development. I also work part time as an independent journalist (which had been my full time career prior to starting my studies at Oxford). My byline can be found in range of news outlets both in South Africa and internationally, including the Guardian, El Pais, the Continent, African Arguments, Daily Maverick, GroundUp and Spotlight.

At the journalistic level, I primarily write in-depth features about public health issues in Africa. In particular, I focus on health crises that have significant impacts on vulnerable people but are largely underreported or simply obscured in the press. Examples include the very high levels of lead exposure throughout the continent, the effects of USAID cuts on HIV transmission in Mozambique and the growing (yet largely ignored) heroin crisis in South Africa.

I typically try to capture the impacts of these crises by speaking with people on the ground who are directly affected. I also try to focus on public policy solutions by evaluating and analysing empirical research.

Prior to working as an independent writer, I worked as a reporter for Bhekisisa, which is a specialist health news outlet based in Johannesburg.

I completed my master's degree in Violence, Conflict and Development at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). My undergraduate and honors degrees were in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) at the University of Cape Town (UCT).