AHCJ’s Right-to-Know Committee is always looking for ways to elevate the work of those who fight to get officials at all levels of government to release information to the public, and to give journalists access to public officials through press conferences and interviews. That’s why this article by Bob Herman, a business of health care reporter at STAT, caught our attention.
The piece, part of a newsletter Bob writes for STAT, was entitled “The silence of CMS.” In it, Bob implored the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to “end the opacity with reporters and the public.” He lambasted the agency for making reporters who have questions fill out an online form, only to receive back an empty statement that can’t be attributed to anyone.
He ended the piece by noting that when he asked CMS for a comment — using the online form, of course — the agency responded: “No reporter is entitled to interviews, press calls, or access to internal staff. CMS will continue to engage through established channels that ensure accuracy, consistency, and transparent communication.’”
While discussing the article in a recent committee meeting, one member said, “We should give him an award.” And that is how AHCJ’s Sunshine Award came to be.
We presented the inaugural award to Bob at Health Journalism 2026 in Minneapolis. In accepting the award — which includes a trophy, expenses for the conference and $500 in cash — Bob said his article came about because he was feeling “grumpy” about the way CMS, HHS, and other agencies were treating health reporters. Then he urged the rest of us to “get grumpy” and do something about it!
We hope to give out the award every year to a “grumpy” reporter who fights against the powers that be. And if you are feeling grumpy, join us on the Right to Know Committee and help us make life better for you and your fellow reporters.
