NP Workr_08 4/11/12 11:51 AM Page 1 $5.00 April 2012 Portrait of an Epidemic HBO Project Tackles the Nation’s Obesity Health Risk Page 10 Government Roadblocks Challenges Persist in Navigating Federal Agencies Page 16 Life After Reporting How Health Journalists Are Transitioning to Health Care New Careers Page 36 on Trial The Supreme Court Weighs the Obama Plan Page 4 12np0018_08 4/2/12 9:55 AM Page 1 AMERICA’S BEVERAGE COMPANIES ARE DELIVERING. From sodas, juices and teas to waters and sports drinks, we’re making it easier to choose what’s right for you. By introducing more low- and no-calorie beverages, we’ve reduced the average calories per serving by 23% since 1998. Our packaging now has clear calorie labels so you know exactly what you’re choosing. And in schools, we’ve replaced full-calorie soft drinks with lower-calorie and smaller-portion options. To learn more about the beverage industry and its leadership initiatives, contact the American Beverage Association at (202) 463-6770 or visit DeliveringChoices.org. 12np0018.pdf RunDate: 04/16/12 Full Page Color: 4/C NP Workr_08 4/11/12 11:51 AM Page 3 )5207+((',725 The Health Beat Makes Headlines Again — But That’s Nothing New &217(176 The AHCJ’s timing, as usual, is impeccable. Health Care on Trial ................................................ 4 Once again, as the Association of Health Care Journalists gathers for its annual Will Obama’s plan stand up to Supreme Court scrutiny? conference, events taking place in the outside world spotlight the enormity of the Portrait of an Epidemic ........................................ 10 task at hand for rank-and-file health journalists. While the group gathers this week HBO documentary series tackles America’s health risks from obesity to reunite with colleagues, compare notes and get up to date, the nation’s highest Is It News or Advertising? .................................... 12 court is focused firmly on health care, deliberating the fate of the Affordable Care The FCC wants to mandate that sponsored content be identified Act and preparing to unveil a decision in the next couple of months that will pro- in an online database foundly impact not just the lives of American families but also the course of the Freedom of Information ....................................... 14 A treasure trove of stories is contained in public records, but how nation’s history. does the journalist get at them? As big a challenge as it is just to cover the court case—a process we break down in this year’s cover Government Roadblocks Remain .......................... 16 story—that’s only the beginning. With a presidential election in full swing, the principals are postur- Journalists continue to be frustrated by their dealings with government agencies ing in advance of the decision and planning to make sure that, whatever the high court ultimately Inside This Year’s AHCJ Conference ..................... 18 decides, their own spin will get out to the voters, front and center. Everyone can be counted on to try A scheduled appearance by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is just to work the court’s eventual ruling to their own political advantage. Therein lies another challenge one of the many highlights on tap for all journalists: the always daunting need to sort fact from distortion, truth from spin, the central Restricted Access ................................................. 20 issue from the distraction. Here again, as is so often the case, the lines become blurred among health Journalism groups battle government over data bank journalism, political reporting and other disciplines. Inside CNN’s Health and Medical Unit ................. 22 The network’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Whatever is happening in the court, in the election and in the news, there’s always a health angle. offers a different perspective on health care news Last year the Japanese tsunami, which was in the headlines as AHCJ convened, stirred up myriad AHCJ Awards for Excellence ................................ 24 issues that reminded us all how important the job of the health journalist is. This year the Affordable A look at the best in health journalism in the past year Care Act drives home the point again. Next year it will be something else. The Trust Factor ................................................... 27 Fortunately, health journalists have this chance each year, thanks to the hard work of the Associa- Survey reveals increased faith in media tion of Health Care Journalists in putting on a terrific annual conference, to gather new tools and Working With Hospitals ....................................... 30 Medical professionals aid health journalists perspectives that can help them navigate the challenges of the profession in the coming year. This Five Years of Success ........................................... 32 year’s event again offers a wealth of insights for journalists eager to check out how their priorities and The AHCJ-CDC Health Journalism Fellowship skills line up with those of their colleagues. Doctors on the Beat ............................................. 34 Welcome to AHCJ 2012, and while you’re soaking it all up, take a moment to give yourselves a pat Medical experts help clarify reporting on the back. Your work matters, and we thank you for taking it seriously. Life After Reporting ............................................. 36 Health journalists transition to new careers —Dennis R. Liff, Editor Success in the Freelance Marketplace ................. 37 An AHCJ board member shows how it’s done Social Media Update ............................................ 38 An increasingly vital outlet for reporters ADVERTISING SALES When the Reporter Becomes the Story ................ 40 Ph: (212) 210-0748 Fax: (212) 210-0772 WFTS-TV’s Linda Hurtado talks about her most personal health Executive Producer: reporting experience Jeff Reisman, [email protected] (212) 210-0748 Cover photo: The Collection of the Supreme Court EDITORIAL OFFICES Producer: of the United States Phone: (212) 210-0748 Fax: (212) 210-0772 Danny Schreiber, [email protected] (503) 723-9688 CUSTOMER SERVICE 877-812-1257 Production Manager: Nicole Dionne 1HZV3UR ,661 9ROXPH ,VVXH LV Publisher-Editorial Director: David Klein Circulation Manager: Nicole Chantharaj SXEOLVKHGUHJXODUO\DW&UDLQ&RPPXQLFDWLRQV,QF 7KLUG$YHQXH1HZ<RUN1<3HULRGLFDOSRVWDJH Editor: Dennis R. Liff, [email protected] Art Director: Kurt D. Gardner SHQGLQJDW1HZ<RUN1<DQGDGGLWLRQDOPDLOLQJRIÀFHV Copy Editor: Sean Diviny 32670$67(5 VHQG DGGUHVV FKDQJHG WR 1HZV3UR &LUFXODWLRQ'HSW*UDWLRW$YH'HWURLW0, CRAIN COMMUNICATIONS INC. Executive VP-Operations: William A. Morrow Chief Information Officer: Paul Dalpiaz Senior VP-Group Publisher: Gloria Scoby Corporate Circulation Director: Kathy Henry Chairman: Keith E. Crain Group VP-Technology, Circulation, Founder: G.D. Crain Jr. (1885-1973) President: Rance Crain Manufacturing: Robert C. Adams Chairman Emeritus: Mrs. G.D. Crain Jr. (1911-1996) 9LVLWXVRQOLQHDW Secretary: Merrilee Crain VP-Production & Manufacturing: David Kamis 79:HHNFRP1HZVSUR Treasurer: Mary Kay Crain NewsPro® is a registered trademark of Crain Communications Inc. American Cleaning Institute® is your information source on cleaning, hygiene and health. ACI (formerly The Soap and Detergent Association) represents the U.S. cleaning products industry and offers informed perspective on consumer, legislative, regulatory, and technical issues and trends. Give us a call: 202-662-2517 Send us your questions: [email protected] Check us out online: www.cleaninginstitute.org 1331 L Street, NW, Suite 650 Washington, DC 20005 April 2012 | NewsPro | 3 NP Workr_08 4/11/12 11:51 AM Page 4 COVER STORY Health Care on Trial :LOO2EDPD·V3ODQ6WDQGWKH7HVWRIWKH +LJKHVW&RXUWLQWKH/DQG" By Jarre Fees by Jarre Fees ealth care reform is complicated and far-reaching, mired he “got a law degree so lawyers would stop pulling rank on me,” with politics and legal jargon. The bottom line for the U.S. and added that the information Hgovernment is finding a way to provide health coverage for accessible to reporters is “a big 32 million Americans who are currently uninsured. change from as recently as 20 years Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, around ago. The briefs are well-written 24 million of those people would be covered in health insurance and well-organized, typically in exchanges, with the remaining 16 million falling under an expanded two pages, so a justice or law clerk Medicaid program. That’s expensive, daunting, and raises a lot of can readily see the point. questions. “It isn’t rocket science,” he said, Come late June, the Supreme Court is expected to announce its “as compared to some of the health decision on the Department of Health and Human Services, et al., care regulations I’ve read, which versus State of Florida, et al., on whether to let the Affordable Care really are rocket science.” Act (ACA) stand. And ready or In particular, Jost recommended not, many health care journalists SCOTUS, a blog by Tom are finding themselves covering Goldstein, who has argued 24 issues that until recently were the cases before the Supreme Court, 1(,/0F/$8*+/,1 strict province of legal writers. and also a blog written by Santa Clara University law professor Short of going to law school, Bradley Joondeph. how do health journalists cover In addition to keeping readers informed about the Supreme an issue that looked, early on, as Court decision, there are plenty of stories waiting to be written though it would stand,