List date(s) this work was published or aired.
6-9-2011, 9-25-2011, 10-6-2011, 11-9-2011
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
9-25-11 (Botox 2.0): The facial reconstruction story is about a possible breakthrough for the injured, deformed and vane. A Johns Hopkins researcher has discovered how to mold new facial features out of a half synthetic and half organic clay-like substance that would be hardier and longer lasting than anything on the market. 9-25-11 (Gaps in drug supply probed): story developed because of prescription drug shortages. Companies have been seriously marking up the price on life-saving drugs, prompting a collegiate basketball coach with a sick son to partner with a U.S. congressman to tackle the problem. 10-6-2011 (Maryland seeks a healthier prison population): story is about the efforts by Maryland officials to treat the chronic conditions of inmates. Some inmates are indeed now healthier, which has saved taxpayers in the short term because they’ve needed less emergency care. But the story shows why they rarely do well after they are released. 6-9-2011 (Team effort saves Baltimore runner): story is about a runner who dropped dead of a heart attack just shy of the finish line of the Baltimore Marathon. But through the efforts of other runners, a police officer and doctors on the street and at the hospital, he was brought back. Turns out that having a heart attack during a race is uncommon, but so is surviving.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
9-25-11 (Botox 2.0): a lot of detailed explanation, research papers and background on existing drugs were necessary to explain what the future could bring. 9-25-11 (Gaps in drug supply probed): the drug story required Congressional documents, industry information and an FDA database to determine what drugs were in short supply, why prices spiked and what was being done about it. 10-6-2011 (Maryland seeks a healthier prison population): The prison health story required data provided through FOI requests from the prison system, permission to visit a prison and interview inmates, court records for prisoner background and an extensive list of experts inside and outside the system to unravel how inmates are treated. This process took many months. 6-9-2011 (Team effort saves Baltimore runner): The marathoner story required a step-by-step reenactment of the scene and an effort to tracking down everyone involved. For this, I used the accounts of witnesses, marathon organizers, police and hospital officials and some computer searches to locate people.
Explain types of human sources used.
9-25-11 (Botox 2.0): The facial reconstruction story involved the researchers and other plastic and reconstructive surgeons and patients. 9-25-11 (Gaps in drug supply probed): The drug story used hospital, industry and congressional sources as well as the University of Maryland women’s basketball coach. 10-6-2011 (Maryland seeks a healthier prison population): The prison story used prison officials, prisoners, corrections experts, academics, advocates, lawyers and family members. 6-9-2011 (Team effort saves Baltimore runner): The marathon story relied on the victim, his family, his doctors, other runners, police and marathon organizers.
Results:
9-25-11 (Botox 2.0): Researchers continue to work on the “Holy Grail” of facial reconstruction material. 9-25-11 (Gaps in drug supply probed): Hospitals, patients, advocates and members of Congress are working on solutions to the prescription drugs shortages that involve early warning legislation and a networking to share drugs. 10-6-2011 (Maryland seeks a healthier prison population): The prison system is now working on bridge plans for prisoners to ensure their continued care. This includes making appointments for former prisoners with outside health care providers and enrolling them in public assistance programs. 6-9-2011 (Team effort saves Baltimore runner): Marathon organizers awarded a finisher’s medal to the runner who nearly didn’t survive the race during a public ceremony where those who came to his aid were also given awards.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
I’ve continued to follow the drug shortage story and plan one on the prison health system. Hopefully, the marathoner will never have to talk about dying to a reporter again. No corrections or clarifications.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
For medical stories in general it’s really important to fully understand the medicine, even if all the details aren’t included in the story. It’s also a good idea to run the specifics past others in the same field. Specifically on prison stories, it’s important to know most prisoners lie and some officials may embellish accomplishments. Ask for proof and double check through court records and advocacy groups. And the marathon story came about because of a conversation with a hospital source about something else. She mentioned the patient and I hounded her to call the family for weeks on my behalf for an interview. So my advice is to chat up your sources regularly and ask about unusual cases. Then beg them to help you and not to tell anyone else until you can piece together a story.