Capitol & Scott: The Great Delta Divide
This story was produced as part of a project for the 2021 National Fellowship, a program of USC Annenberg's Center for Health Journalism.
Other stories by Stephen Simpson includes:
Towns in Delta losing people, hope for change
Arkansas' west is a world apart; health care an example of state’s haves, have-nots gulf
Delta's cities show its plight; Blytheville, Pine Bluff face future after population drops
Depression poses major health risk; experts see stress of poverty wearing on Delta residents
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
By Lara Farrar, Nick Popowitch
In 2021, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Stephen Simpson won a grant from the University of Southern California’s Center for Health Journalism to work on a series about health disparities in the Arkansas Delta.
In his six-part series, called the Great Delta Divide, Simpson explores a number of issues in a region that was once an economic powerhouse in the American South. Such issues include mental health, population declines, access to healthcare and the impact of the pandemic.
On this episode of Capitol & Scott, Simpson discusses his reporting and what the future looks like for those who continue to call the Arkansas Delta their home.
Let us know what you think and what ideas you may have for future episodes.
[This story was originally published by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.]