This entry consists of three health journalism analysis/criticism pieces. They appeared in three online publication read by many journalists (Poynter Online, CJRDaily.com and BMJ.com). The common theme is the questionable quality of local television coverage of health and medical news.
The first pieces looks at the apparent breakdown in the firewall between editorial and advertising in some Tv newsrooms in the coverage of health topics.
The second article is an examination of past and current calls for voluntary certification of television health reporters because of rampant quality and ethical concerns in that industry.
The third article documents an almost total disregard for the coverage of health policy or health care reform issue on the prime time newscast of three leading U.S. television stations during the entire 2004 election year.