Past Contest Entries

Beat Reporting: Lorna Benson, Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesota Public Radio reporter Lorna Benson covered the H1N1 flu vaccination beat in real time as concerns over vaccination emerged. She contrasted positive and negative viewpoints about receiving the shot and responded with information from public health officials. Another story profiled the first H1N1 immunization clinics in Minnesota for at-risk kids. She also examined health care workers' accounts that many H1N1 patients had no fever, begging the question of whether the CDC's guidelines on staying home for 24 hours after a fever breaks are an effective prevention strategy. The final piece, "My Vaccine Secrecy,' looked at how some clinics mislead patients about their supply of vaccine to avoid being overrun. It also examined the state Health Department's decision to keep the clinic locations secret.

See the contest questionnaire in which the reporter writes about how this story was written.

Place:

No Award

Year:

  • 2009

Category:

  • Beat Reporting

Affiliation:

Minnesota Public Radio

Reporter:

Lorna Benson

Links: