- http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/health/a-regimes-tight-grip-lessons-from-cuba-in-aids-control.html?ref=donaldgjrmcneil
- http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/health/policy/washington-dc-tests-for-aids-in-stores-streets-and-offices.html?ref=donaldgjrmcneil
- http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/health/another-use-for-home-hiv-test-screening-partners.html?pagewanted=all
- http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/06/health/unlikely-model-for-hiv-prevention-porn-industry.html?ref=donaldgjrmcneil
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
May 8, July 22, Oct. 6, Nov. 6, 2012
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
The series looked at a very small number of places or industries in the world that have successfully kept infections and death from AIDS to an absolute minimum, and how they did it. It also explored ways that other places – or even the whole United States – might do the same if some changes were made. One important lesson: each venue is different, but the most essential element is constant testing for HIV and aggressive follow-up of all sexual contacts of infected people. Sex education is also important.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Getting a journalists’ visa to Cuba took well over a year and much persuasion. Other documents included: supporting material appended to an application submitted to the FDA, a Los Angeles County health department study of sexually transmitted infections in the porn industry, a Columbia University researcher’s study of 27 men who used a home HIV-test kit to test sexual partners. McNeil found all of them by digging in medical journals, on government websites, or by asking sources for whatever studies they knew of. No FOIA requests were filed.
Explain types of human sources used.
AIDS doctors, HIV-infected patients in the U.S. and in Cuba, people waiting to be tested at a DMV office in SE Washington, numerous public health officials, porn actors and actresses on set (sometimes with their clothes on), street addicts waiting for clean needles, transsexual prostitutes at a self-help group for sex workers, a promoter of gay dungeon orgies and “underwear optional” harbor cruises who also offers HIV tests. And Fidel Castro’s niece, Mariela, who runs Cuba’s National Center for Sex Education.
Results:
No one has yet imitated the approaches used by Cuba or the porn industry, but they are now better-known and discussed. Using home HIV tests to test sexual partners is now much more widely discussed, but no government health agency has yet endorsed it, and the company still shies away from the idea for fear of lawsuits.
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 or clarifications. “To my knowledge, no one challenged the accuracy of my stories,” McNeil writes.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Look for unusual angles on stories. And when dealing with Cuba, be patient.