Insights

<p>New community health laws proposed in California, noisy health care is bad for patients, no fast-track Supreme Court decision on health reform, plus more from our Daily Briefing.</p>

<p>This morning I decided I needed to let off some steam because I had far too many possible comments circling my brain to get them out in one session! Luckily, I was reading <a href="http://virginiahughes.com/2011/04/25/analysis-finds-weak-evidence-for-m…; target="_blank" title="Virginia Hughes reviews autism treatment efficacy">Virginia Hughes</a> talking about a review of treatments for autism.</p>

<p>Many professions have their version of a post-event analysis of what went wrong, and how to prevent it. The autopsy report is medicine's. Journalists can find a trove of stories in a review of death certificates.</p>

<p>Why are part-time elected officials in California getting such expensive full-time health benefits? Answers and more in our Daily Briefing.</p>

<p>Daniela Velazquez wades through reams of data on childhood obesity in her community and lives to tell the tale.</p>

<p><span style="color: #000000;">As a Brit looking back on the AHCJ conference which ended just a week ago, I have to say that the overwhelming impression I took away was that Americans appear to love their health insurance companies more than almost anything else, and that US health journalists appear to be less critical and analytical in approaching health reform and health policy than when they report on new drugs and treatments.</span></p>

<p>Journalist Liz Scherer talks with Antidote blogger William Heisel about why we medicalize menopause and other life transitions in a wide-ranging conversation about media coverage of women's health.</p>

<p>A series of miscalculations presents an opportunity to make our next project even better</p>

<p>The new Wellcome Trust Science Writing Prize 2011 is a challenge to non-professional writers -- anyone who hasn't written for money -- to write 800-word articles that might be published in <em>The Guardian</em> or <em>The Observor</em>.&nbsp;The contest is great incentive for scientists and new writers across the pond, but what is great about the contest for those of us in the United States and elsewhere is the "Secrets of Good Science Writing" feature <em>The Guardian</em> launched this month to encourange entrants. This week in Career GPS, we're highlighting some of the series' most poignant lessons so far and listing the newest job and educational opportunities in health media.</p>

<p>Could a penny-an-ounce soda tax in California save public schools and help children's health? Answers and more in today's Daily Briefing.</p>