Provide names of other journalists involved.
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List date(s) this work was published or aired.
9-Jul-12
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
This story focused on a young researcher’s amazing and somewhat accidental discovery of how well embryonic stem cells secrete a substance that helps old muscle regenerate itself. The effect is so astonishing that it makes old muscle cells look better than young new ones. This has tantalizing implications for being able to repair or replace muscles some day. I got the idea to develop the story, and actually a series of stories, after the state released a list of research projects that got state funding for stem cell research. Despite being such cutting edge science, the list was so dry and technical it was impossible to understand the value of the work. Yet this was a new frontier in Connecticut and the work was being funded by public money. The stories needed to be told. The secret to the story was to try to tell it in an engaging, non-technical way so it was understandable and compelling to anyone, especially those outside science circles.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Online research on Carlson’s work and this type of scientific research. No FOI/other public records requests were required.
Explain types of human sources used.
I contacted the University of Connecticut Health Center spokeswoman and talked with her about Morgan Carlson’s research. She told me a little more about him, and I set up an interview. He turned out to be engaging and articulate. I also interviewed the supervisor who recruited him.
Results:
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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.
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Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Look for the stories lying behind these grants and to always ask the scientists how they got interested in the research in the first place. They almost always have a good story to tell.