- clickondetroit.com/lifestyle/health/The-Gift-Of-Life-2-Families-1-Heart/-/2300442/1786708/-/dydxv5z/-/index.html
- clickondetroit.com/news/Part-1-The-Story-Of-Tommy-s-Heart/-/1719418/2648156/-/6ibuk9/-/index.html
- clickondetroit.com/news/Part-2-The-Story-Of-Tommy-s-Heart/-/1719418/2648120/-/g082acz/-/index.html
- youtube.com/watch?v=leBqpZMw5jE
Provide names of other journalists involved.
Sarah Mayberry John Pompeo Vanessa Ogletree Jeff Sepulveda
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
9/13/2011
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
What do you say to the strangers who saved your child’s life? Or to the child who has your child’s heart beating in their chest? For the past six years, we’ve followed the story of Tommy Schomaker, a little boy who was born with a condition that left one side of his heart unable to pump blood. Two years ago, Tommy received a lifesaving heart transplant from a little girl in Minnesota named Audrey. This summer, Tommy and Audrey’s families agreed to meet and share the amazing experience of two families sharing one heart.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
This story was a feature focusing on two families, so no documents, Internet resources, public records, or FOI requests were used.
Explain types of human sources used.
This story was shot entirely by one photographer using three cameras. In addition to a standard news camera, we placed two smaller cameras in the room where the initial meeting between the families would take place, to allow us to capture the moment in the least intrusive way possible. We also used home video and photographs the families took throughout the weekend. The photographer and producer logged the hours of video, and the producer then constructed the story using only natural sound and soundbites from the interviews. An editor then compiled those elements and added music to create the finished product.
Results:
Gift of Life of Michigan and LifeSource of Minnesota say our story did increase the number of registered organ donors in both states. Our viewers say it also raised awareness in a unique way, by showing how much the donation meant to the donor’s family, as well as the recipient’s.
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.
No.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Over the years, we have built a relationship with Tommy’s family that has enabled us to follow them through some of the most difficult and emotional days of their lives. Building that trust was essential to the success of the project. We also talked at length with Audrey’s family before the trip to Minnesota, to reassure them about the focus of our story and our respect for their grief.