Health-related investigations (including one by an AHCJ member) snagged both top spots in the Barlett & Steele Awards for Investigative Business Journalism this year. The awards, funded by the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism, judge stories based on “investigative enterprise, strong business theme, writing style, clarity and impact.”
Reuters’ Murray Waas took the top spot, called the Gold Award, for “Diagnosed with Breast Cancer, Dropped by Insurer (PDF),” a four-month investigation of WellPoint’s rescission algorithm. He’ll get $5,000.
The Silver Award, meanwhile, went to AHCJ member John Fauber, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, for “Side Effects: Money, Medicine and Patients,” the long-running conflict of interest investigation we’ve covered extensively on this blog.
There was no Bronze Award, but another health story — “Inside the Health-Care Crucible: Reports from a Hospital in a Time of Upheaval,” by the Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Michael Vitez — did earn an honorable mention. We’ve mentioned Vitez’ dispatches before, he’s the reporter who spent months “embedded” in a suburban Pennsylvania hospital.
