- http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/population/
- http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/population/la-fg-population-emptynets-20120729-html,0,3094800.htmlstory
- http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-philippines-law-contraceptives-20121229,0,6905291.story
Provide names of other journalists involved.
Photojournalist Rick Loomis provided fabulous visuals. Julie Marquis was a terrific editor.
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Beyond 7 billion publication dates: July 22, July 24, July 26, July 27, July 29, 2012.
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Population pressures affect every aspect of society’s health and well-being. Hunger, poverty, disease, civil unrest, environmental decay and rapid population growth are interconnected in the fast-growing developing world. Women’s access to contraceptives and other reproductive health services are common threads that run throughout these vexing problems.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Research for the series began with extensive survey of scientific literature on hunger-related diseases, fertility and women’s reproductive health, maternal and child mortality as well as demography, agriculture, terrorism and economics.
Explain types of human sources used.
We did extensive interviews with experts in various fields to understand the trends, and their connections. Then, we set out to ground-truth the ideas by visiting poor families in Asia and Africa to see if they hold up. We also spoke with health workers, political leaders and members of NGOs in these countries.
Results:
Debates over population growth’s affect on human health and welfare are often avoided because of their polarizing nature. The series has engendered more candid discussion by showing the topic can be addressed in a health and human rights context.
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 corrections.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
For most of my career, I’ve focused on specific topics or issues. It’s important to step back and look at the big picture and how things are interconnected. When reporting on health issues overseas, academic physicians and scientists, government researchers can help identify trends. Health workers, particularly from NGOs, are terrific guides on the ground. In putting together complex stories, it’s best to cast a wide net to find the best examples and the best people to help “show rather than tell.”