List date(s) this work was published or aired.
7-Aug-11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Do food deserts exist? Can more supermarkets really help remedy higher rates of obesity in the poor? Surprisingly, some prominent national experts answer no to those questions, a perspective that gets little to no attention in media stories about food deserts. This story is a careful reporting of evidence that suggests that supermarkets are not a panacea for health disparities in poor neighborhoods, despite what fresh food financing advocates – including the first lady – suggest.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Close reading of the expert literature on the relationship between proximity to grocery stores and diet was essential to this story. Fresh food financing advocates like to suggest that the science on this question is settled – not so – and experts trusted me when I could ask questions clearly informed by research.
Explain types of human sources used.
I sought out experts who were well-respected in their field but also outspoken and willing to challenge the prevailing and popular ideas in their field.
Results:
None yet – California passed its own fresh food financing initiative a few weeks ago.
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.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
I would not be intimidated by scientific literature – reading it first-hand is an important starting place, and I think too often overlooked.