Provide names of other journalists involved.
Dickson Lee, Photographer
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
27-Jun-11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
More Hong Kong women are turning to Chinese medicine for help in getting pregnant. This is largely because women get married and have babies later in life. Chinese medicine provides an alternative to western-style IVF procedures, which are invasive and costly. This story explores the pros and cons of using Chinese medicine for fertility treatments, and informs readers of things they need to be aware of.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
I requested statistics from the government, the Chinese Medicine Council and the Council on Human Reproductive Technology. I also looked up the costs of fertility treatments online, as well as called treatment centres to confirm.
Explain types of human sources used.
I talked to the city’s leading Chinese herbalist who specializes in fertility treatment, a woman who succeeded in getting pregnant and an obstetrician.
Results:
This story introduced readers- especially expatriates who are not familiar with Chinese medicine- an alternative option in seeking fertility treatment. The story generated much interest after it was published, as the newspaper received tens of emails and calls from readers requesting for more information.
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.
None.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
When writing a story about alternative medicine, remember to talk to obstetricians/ other doctors or scientists for a more balanced report.