$5.00 October 2009 April 19, 2010 Doctors’ Dilemma A CRITICAL Ethics Issues Plague Physician- SITUATION Reporters Page 14 Internet Now King Web Surpasses TV as Medium of Choice Page 4 Mediocre Media Are Generalists Lowering the Bar for Niche Reporting? Page 34 How Health COVER IMAGE BY: SCOTT OLSON Care Journalists GETTY IMAGES Juggled Crucial Topics Page 10 /ZT`SR7Rc>]\b 1]Zc[PWOC\WdS`aWbg/eO`Ra 6=<=@7<5B6303AB7<0@=/21/AB<3EA>@=5@/;;7<5 1/::4=@3<B@73A 23/2:7<3(8C:G 3ZWUWPWZWbg>S`W]R(8cZg '8c\S! eeeRc^]\bOeO`Ra]`U FROM THE EDITOR The Battle on Health’s Contents Front Lines FEEDS l 4 Health care journalism has been challenged on a number of fronts A new study finds that the Internet is the “most essential” medium to the majority of in a year marked by controversial and complicated health care Americans. reform, the threat of a swine flu pandemic and a major earthquake *Smart phone health care apps are in Haiti that killed 230,000 people. proliferating, gaining popularity with the The loud shouts of the enormous political battle surrounding public as well as professionals. the overhaul of the U.S. health care system often overshadowed *NBC News’ Dr. Nancy Snyderman reflects the particulars of the measure’s intent, which health care on her career and her experiences in Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. journalists were often hard put to communicate. Further exacerbating the situation was the fact that at a time when reform complexities required a deep knowledge and HEALTH CARE JOURNALISM l 10 understanding on the part of those charged with interpreting the implications of the The shrinking ranks of health care journalists measure for their constituencies, news organizations were cutting back on resources, in come off a year dominated by coverage of health care reform, the swine flu pandemic many instances eliminating specialists and spreading out the health care beat among and the Haiti earthquake. general reporters. *Members of the Association of Health It was a tough time, too, for doctor-reporters on the scene in the aftermath of the Haiti Care Journalists gather in Chicago to focus earthquake, who found themselves becoming part of the stories they were covering when on the future. their responsibilities to practice medicine on the scene trumped their journalistic need to *In the wake of Haiti earthquake coverage, keep a distance from their subjects — and who ended up taking licks for what was doctor-reporters face the question of what’s professionally ethical. perceived by some as a violation of ethics. And coverage of the H1N1 pandemic proved a particularly slippery assignment, with *Profiles of the winners of the AHCJ’s Awards for Excellence in Health Care its fits and starts encumbered by misinformation, or too little information, as it developed. Journalism. As members of the Association of Health Care Journalists convene in Chicago to review these matters and to plan for the next phase of health care reform coverage, the SIGN OFF l 34 importance of their roles in today's mediascape can not be diminished, even though their As station resources shrink and generalists are assigned to cover specialized subjects, can ranks might be. mediocrity in TV news be far behind? They are more important than ever in a society overwhelmed by too much information, and too little of it precise, informed and accurate. NEWSMAKERS l 33 —Tom Gilbert, Editor TECHNOLOGY l 32 ADVERTISING SALES Ph: (212) 210-0748 Fax: (212) 210-0772 Executive Producer: NewsPro (ISSN 2151-1764), Volume 1, Issue 7, is published Jeff Reisman, [email protected] (212) 210-0748 Monthly, except for combined issues in January/February and EDITORIAL OFFICES Producer: November/December at Crain Communications Inc, 711 Third Ave, Ph: (212) 210-0706 Fax: (212) 210-0772 Danny Schreiber, [email protected] (503) 723-9688 New York, NY 10017. / Periodical postage pending at New York, SUBSCRIPTION HOTLINE (888) 288-5900 Production Manager: Nicole Dionne NY, and at additional mailing offices. 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Crain Jr. (1911- [ Visit us online at TVWeek.com/Newspro ] President: Rance Crain Manufacturing: Robert C. Adams 1996) Secretary: Merrilee Crain VP-Production & Manufacturing:David Kamis Treasurer: Mary Kay Crain NewsPro® is a registered trademark of Crain Chief Information Officer: Paul Dalpiaz Communications Inc. April 19, 2010 | NewsPro | 3 *INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS FROM THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL Feeds NEWS that viewing habits are shifting and changing. Thirty-seven percent of those surveyed have watched TV shows through their cable provider’s video-on- demand service. Thirty-two percent have bought or rented TV series on DVD, while 15 percent have downloaded an entire show episode from an online store like iTunes. Online TV Viewing As far as watching television shows online, a five-year trend shows that the big jump was IN THE LATEST INFINITE DIAL STUDY, 42 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS SAID THE INTERNET IS THE MEDIUM THEY COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT. between 2008 and 2009 and that the percentage of people MEDIA HABITS STUDY doing it did not increase significantly in the first quarter of 2010, staying at about 22 Web Now ‘Most Essential’ Medium percent. The average time spent viewing video online was By Hillary Atkin radio, and 5 percent saying this,” Williams said. “It’s nearly three hours per week. For the first time, the Internet newspapers were the most something that’s fairly in its The study points out that has squeaked past television as important to them. While infancy. As the experience while the rise of online video the most essential medium in television still leads among improves, it’s an experience that’s has been steady and persistent the lives of Americans. those over the age of 45, the growing. I read articles that for the past 10 years, many That finding was part of Internet dominates among imply that a lot more people are more people still watch Arbitron Inc. and Edison people age 12 to 44. doing this. Should networks be television in public places like Research’s recently released “The Infinite Dial 2010: Digital Television Habits Platforms and the Future of “We also looked at different Radio” national survey. ways people are watching While television still This was the 12th such television shows to see what leads among those annual survey measuring media percentage are watching habits among people age 12 and nonbroadcast television over the age of 45, older and included non-Internet platforms,” said Diane and non-cell phone households Williams, senior media research the Internet dominates in its polling of about 1,750 analyst at Arbitron. among people people across the country. Twenty-eight percent of The study showed that when those surveyed had watched a age 12 to 44. given a choice along with full-length television episode television, radio and streaming over the Internet at newspapers, 42 percent of some point in their lives, and preparing for additional shifts in doctors’ offices, gas stations and Americans say the Internet is among the 12-24 age group, 41 this way? Our finding is that stores than online — and that “most essential” to their lives, percent had done so. online is not taking over the online video still appeals to an with 37 percent selecting “I viewed it as a reality check world right now.” audience that is young (12-44) television, 14 percent choosing on how many people are doing Yet the research confirms and male. 4 | NewsPro | April 19, 2010 ONLINE Web Not Replacing TV 5,820 apps are related to medical, developers, companies that “Online does not appear to be a health and fitness. Health- and produce apps and medical replacement activity for Demand medical-related apps aimed at publishers with a Web presence broadcast,” Williams said. consumers let people track online. “These were the first “We’re not seeing enough on the Rise chronic illnesses, sleep patterns, established players,” said Dolan. volume. Watching online seems headaches and menstrual cycles. “Pharma has just a couple. to be extra — catching up on for Health They allow users to store Medical device makers are slowly episodes. There are two important medical information, getting into it. And slowly we’re categories: full-length and Care Apps research natural cures and figure seeing more and more coming watching any video online. A out what their symptoms mean. from health care providers.” good deal of video that people On March 1, for example, are watching online is shorter Numbers Uncertain the Mayo Clinic launched the form, like YouTube videos.” How many people are free Mayo Clinic Symptom The study showed that downloading them? The vast Checker, an iPhone/iTouch app Americans still hold radio in majority of apps — more than that lets users enter symptoms high regard, with nearly 80 5,000 — are for the iPhone, and provides guidance on self- percent saying they plan to but since Apple is not care as well as advice on when listen to as much AM/FM forthcoming on their download professional care is necessary.