1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
Special Report: "Is Your Life on the Line?" by Paul John Scott.
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
May 2010 Men's Health Magazine.
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
There are 285 million users of cell phones in the US today, including millions of users under the age of 20, yet a growing body of research suggests that our complacency about their potential health effects is unwarranted. This article tells the story of brain tumor survivor Lloyd Morgan and his campaign to raise questions about shortcomings in the research finding radiation from cell phones to be harmless. It focuses on design problems in the largest study ever taken of the safety of cell phones –the multi-nation Interphone project — the problem of scientific research produced by so-called product defense firms, the research suggesting that radiofrequency radiation can indeed damage DNA, studies showing that children are uniquely susceptible to cell phone radiation and data out of Sweden showing that frequent users of cell phones under the age of 20 have five times the risk of developing two forms of brain cancer.
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
This study examined published peer reviewed epidemiological and basic science research on the safety of cell phones.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
Cell phone safety researchers within academic settings and from without, cell phone industry spokespersons, cancer researchers and basic science researchers.
6. Results (if any).
N/a.
7. 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.
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Be willing to place the viewpoints of American cancer patient advocacy organizations within the context of countervailing arguments from their counterparts in other countries.