Recap: A week of challenging health news narratives

Last week, the USC/California Endowment National Health Journalism Fellows were knee-deep in seminars and conversations about international trade, urban violence and community campaigns. As it turns out, these are all topics for a health beat. The National Health Journalism Fellows and Dennis A. Hunt Fund for Health Journalism grant recipients convened in Los Angeles to expand their reporting horizons. But - through the beauty of the Internet - learning is for everyone, so here's a recap of the week:

Authors John A. Rich challenged the conventional health narratives about violence, trauma and young black men and National Fellow Kari Lydersen asked, what will it really take to curb youth violence?

Healthy food advocate Mary Lee explained why where you live is a big factor in your health, while former health journalism Fellows Suzanne Bohan and Sandy Kleffman explained how they reported on place and health in North California.

Find out how Ann Moss Joyner makes maps to expose social inequities and how Deborah Estrin collects data using a device owned by pretty much everyone.

Take a tour of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach - where gantry cranes, oil drilling "islands" and mountains of scrap metal share the harbor with sea lions and kelp forests - and find out why pollution controls can actually increase the carbon dioxide emitted. To see it for yourself, visit a slideshow of an urban cruise.

Ethan Watters discussed the exportation of American mental illness around the world and two diabetes experts presented some surprising findings about the health of young people.

Find out more about the Fellowships and the $55,000 that this year's National Health Journalism Fellows and grantees of the Dennis A. Hunt Fund for Health Journalism will receive to work on their investigative projects.