1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
"Freckle, Mole — Or Cancer?" by Susan Crandell; sunscreen sidebar by Mandy Hendrix; June 2010
"Addicted to the Sun," by Ginny Graves; self-tanning sidebar by Erica Metzger; July 2010
"Spot Check," by Emily G. W. Chau and Julie Bain; August 2010
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
June, July and August 2010
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Skin cancer affects people of all ages and is growing, especially among the young. We wanted to give this topic the space it deserved to raise awareness about why we love tanning even though it's so dangerous and what women can do to detect and prevent skin cancer. In part 1, we worked with top dermatologists to help readers learn the signs of basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma skin cancers, what the lesions look like (including the ABCDE's of melanoma) and what the latest treatments are. We also included a box on Mohs micrographic surgery. In part 2 in July, we talked to experts about why we're still addicted to the perfect tan, and what's so seductive about that. They acknowledged the pleasure factor and body-image aspects of tanning, but also provided good reasons why you should let it go, plus advice on how to do that. We had some fun with our "tanning police" and "no more excuses" sections (pages 97 and 99), as well as dispensing tips on self-tanning. In part 3 in August, we focused on prevention, with advice on how to examine your own skin between yearly appointments with your dermatologist. We used a model's body and included tips sprinkled over the appropriate body parts. We also showed how to spot a pre-cancer. LHJ's health director Julie Bain shared the story of her own skin cancers. LHJ has always played a strong leadership role in women's health, and this series gives women of all ages the information and tools to detect the warning signs of skin cancer as well as prevent it. Part of our mission is to extend the reach of our health service with online tools and information. We included a video of our LHJ health director's recent skin check with her dermatologist and made it available via smartphone app, online via our Ladies' Lounge blog or linked on
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
We used all the latest studies from medical journals, as well as government statistics on skin cancer and sunscreen use.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
In part 1 in June, we worked with dermatologists in St. Petersburg, Florida, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati to help readers know the signs of basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma skin cancer, what the lesions may look like (including the ABCDE's of melanoma), and how to get it treated. We also included a box on Mohs micrographic surgery, with the help of David Kriegel, M.D., Bain's personal dermatologist and the director of the Division of Mohs Micrographic Surgery at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. We also included a young woman who was diagnosed with melanoma at 25, and another woman who was diagnosed with basal-cell skin cancer at 32, to illustrate that this affects younger people. In part 2 in July, we included many real women who helped explain their addiction to tanning. We also talked to experts about why we're so addicted to the perfect tan, and what's so seductive about that. We worked with dermatologists who have studied this, including Steven Feldman, M.D., a professor of dermatology at Wake Forest University; as well as docs at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, St. Petersburg, Florida, and Philadelphia. They acknowledged the pleasure factor and body-image aspects of tanning, but also provided good reasons and help to learn to let it go. We had some light-hearted fun with our "tanning police" and "no more excuses" (pages 97 and 99), as well as advice on self-tanning. In part 3 in August, we decided to focus on prevention with advice on how to examine your own skin and take some responsibility between derm appointments. We worked with dermatologists at Mount Sinai in New York City as well as at Johns Hopkins, Saint Louis University and the former president of the Women's Dermatologic Society. We used a gorgeous model's body and included tips about various body parts sprinkled over her photo. We also showed how to spot a pre-cancer. And health editor Bain shared the story of her own 20 years of skin cancer, including a video of her recent skin check with Dr. Kriegel, available online or via smartphone app. We've had nearly 800 views on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uScsqEkgx0
6. Results (if any).
We got many letters from readers who said these stories motivated them to get a suspicious spot checked out, including this one from Heather Fraelick, the 29-year-old melanoma survivor who appeared in part 1 of our series: "People who read your article told me, ‘I ripped it out and gave it to my Mom to remind her to book a follow-up with the derm,' or ‘I read your article and called and made an appointment for next week,' or the best, ‘I will never go tanning again.' I am honored to share my struggle in the hopes fewer women will walk my path. I thank you for dedicating so much ink to this topic when every outlet is cutting corners and reducing word count." Our skin check video has had nearly 800 views on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uScsqEkgx0 These stories clearly had a direct impact on readers, whether they found it in the pages of the magazine or online. Raising awareness that a pimple or scab could be a deadly disease, even in a young person, led to actions that may have saved lives. There's no greater reward in journalism. In addition, the series was awarded a Gold Triangle Award from the American Academy of Dermatology for outstanding coverage.
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 corrections were needed, but we've continued to get grateful letters from people who were motivated to get skin checks and were diagnosed with skin cancer.
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Women's magazines must cover certain topics, such as skin cancer, over and over. We always struggle to find fresh and engaging ways to package the information, as well as incorporate the very latest news and thinking. Our advice is to have fun with it and think outside the box (as with our Tanning Police in part 2, our "Body Parts" design in part 3 and our amateur but informative video in part 3). We always think real people stories help bring subject like this to life, as well as incorporating the very best (and articulate) experts.