List date(s) this work was published or aired.
2-Apr-11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
This story explored corporate sponsorship of a new community heart-disease and prevention program established by the American College of Cardiology and in particular, the sponsors of a ‘health fair’ in New Orleans. Among the backers are Coke, Subway, and General Mills, the company behind Betty Crocker Decadent Supreme cake mixes and Häagen-Dazs ice cream. The story asks the question–if an underserved community learns more about obesity, cholesterol, and high blood pressure, does it matter who pays?
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
I researched budgets and programming funds for the American College of Cardiology–America’s largest cardiology professional association, to learn just how much funding comes from these kind of food manufacturers, as well as annual reports, all available online, for companies like Coke and General Mills. I also researched their subsidiary brands to understand just what products these megacorporations produce–in all cases some ‘healthy,” some not at all.
Explain types of human sources used.
I interviewed physicians and cardiologists, spokespeople at the American College of Cardiology, spokespeople at the various corporations, and I personally attended the health fair in the New Orleans, to speak to nurses and physicians working at the fair, and the members of the community who came in for the free tests.
Results:
I framed this as an open-ended question: DOES it matter who pays, if the community benefits.
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.
N/A
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Nothing new here: Follow the money. But I suppose beyond that, step back from preconceived judgment and ask, is this corporate funding doing harm or good? You probably end up at the place you expected to be, but at least you’ve spent some time thinking about what it would be like to be the physician getting funding to do work he so desperately wants to do.