Insights

<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>

<p>William Heisel interviews health writer Liz Scherer about the latest coverage of the Women's Health Initiative study on hormone replacement therapy and her tips for covering women's health.</p>

<p>Though blogging and social media have been around for some time now, some people still argue that blogging, social media and journalism should be independent of one another. Scott Hensley of NPR's Shots blog contends that couldn’t be further from the truth.</p>

<p>Dramatic progress in lowering sepsis rates in California hospitals, the latest on smoking bans, and medical marijuana news, plus more from our Daily Briefing.</p>

<p>In today's hyper-evolving social media world, it might seem quaint, if not downright foolish, to believe that old school journalism's low-tech and low-cost approaches — a pen, a pad, and shoe-leather investigation — could result in an article that ignites a global furor.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>