Lisa Eramo, independent journalist, Cranston, R.I.:

What sessions have you enjoyed the most so far?
All of the freelance ones have been really helpful just in terms of what to do and not do when pitching publications. A lot of it I already knew but it was really good to hear it again, to be reminded. I [also] really enjoyed a session about finding a narrative in complex medical topics. 

What was the best tip you learned in that session?
Think about where you start the story. I thought that was really interesting because the setting can really grab the reader or distance them. So like starting it in the ICU in a hospital setting, a very formal setting, versus starting it in someone’s living room, when they’re talking about their illness. 

I know you didn’t come from very far away to go to the conference. Are you doing any sightseeing while you’re in Boston?
No sightseeing. I drove. I’m going back and forth. So I got stuck in traffic.

Erika Niedowski is a reporter at The Associated Press. She is attending Health Journalism 2013 on an AHCJ-Rhode Island Health Journalism Fellowship, which is supported by The Rhode Island Foundation.

Jay Hancock, reporter, Kaiser Health News, Washington, D.C.:

What has been your favorite panel so far?
The one Thursday night with Jerry Groopman and Pamela Hartzband. I loved their panel because they were so articulate and they were sharing personal details of their lives. As journalists, we all know that stories help bring home the abstract and they did that really, really well.

What’s the best tip you’ve heard?
The best tip was in the Thursday afternoon session by Fred Trotter called Connecting the docs, showing how Medicare data can be gleaned and mined to show doctor referral patterns. A huge resource I had no idea existed.

What other session are you particularly looking forward to?
The Saturday session on what’s next for business in health reform. Businesses will be a critical media for expanding care [under Obamacare]. It’s going to be really interesting. There are a lot of ways it can get screwed up. It’s going to be an important part of the story going forward.

Erika Niedowski is a reporter at The Associated Press. She is attending Health Journalism 2013 on an AHCJ-Rhode Island Health Journalism Fellowship, which is supported by The Rhode Island Foundation.