Provide names of other journalists involved.
Laura LeBlanc Tom Casciato Shelley Lewis
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
20-May-11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
“Feeling the Effects” seeks to shed light on an aspect of climate change that receives little to no attention yet is perhaps the most important side effect of a warming planet. This piece examines how a warming climate is already affecting human health, from making allergies worse to affecting the spread of infectious diseases and pushing the extremes of killer weather. It explores ways in which public health experts and city planners are beginning to prepare for the health threats resulting from our rapidly warming climate.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Scientific literature, government records, and expert interviews were used in the preparation of this piece.
Explain types of human sources used.
Interview with a woman infected with a rare organism that many suspect might be emerging as the result of a warming climate. Expert interviews were also used.
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, clarifications or challenges.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
This is a broad survey piece that highlights a relatively unexplored aspect of climate change. In preparing a piece where the issues are for many people very abstract it is important to find a character that can humanize the story and help viewers relate to the broader issues. Communicating climate change is challenging because most believe it is something that will happen in the distant future. Using a compelling character to illustrate that the problem is now and not in the future can help make that point.