Insights

You learn a lot when you spend months reporting on a given issue or community, as our fellows can attest. Whether you’re embarking on a big new story or seeking to go deeper on a given issue, it pays to learn from those who’ve already put in the shoe leather and crunched the data. In these essays and columns, our community of journalists steps back from the notebooks and tape to reflect on key lessons, highlight urgent themes, and offer sage advice on the essential health stories of the day. 

Author(s)
By David Danelski

We already knew about air pollution's link to asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, and shorter lives. But few of us have given much thought to its effect on the brain. Research in one of the most polluted places -- Mexico City -- sheds light on what might be happening in Inland Southern California.

Author(s)
By Robert Ogilvie

From Nebraska to New York, neighborhood corner stores are putting healthier food on the shelf, using models that are economically sustainable and good for the community. Here are five key strategies to make such stores healthy and viable.

Author(s)
By Giana Magnoli

Two reporters who just spent six months covering the local impacts of the Affordable Care Act in Santa Barbara County reflect on their experience and lessons learned. They tell a story of health care providers struggling to provide quality care in the midst of much uncertainty.