Insights

<p>It was an eventful weekend in the news. Today's <em>Daily Briefing</em> will help you catch up on health in the debt deal, learn surprising facts about clinical trials abroad and violence in hospitals, and connect with tough-but-important stories about famine and homelessness.</p>

<p>Hollenbeck Park is a lovely spot on the east side of Los Angeles. It's an historic place, built in 1982, and has since been a refuge for the evolving communities of Boyle Heights. Imagine a lake and boats and idyllic footbridges.&nbsp;What does any of this have to do with how journalists operate online? Last Friday, I explained the metaphor to this year's National Health Journalism Fellows.</p>

<p>The debt debate's impact on healthcare providers, junk food wastelands, Russia's surprising health move and more from our Daily Briefing.</p>

<p>Journalist Tracy Wood talks about her investigation into a lack of parks in some Orange County (Calif.) cities and how it affects residents' health.</p>

<p>If you're a health journalist with an expertise in blogging or online communities, see this week's edition for a variety of web-based job listings plus an internship opportunity in health writing.</p>

<p>Get great story ideas for covering health reform's rollout in your state from journalist Sarah Kliff.</p>

<p>Learning about gangs, race and violence may not seem like a traditional part of the health beat. Yet the concept of violence as a significant public health threat has been around for more than three decades.</p>

<p>We award $53,500 in reporting grants:&nbsp;“We need high-quality, high-impact health journalism now more than ever to keep community health issues squarely in the public spotlight,” said Mary Lou Fulton, program manager, communication and media grants, at The California Endowment.</p>

<p>Making parks and their impact on community health interesting to editors and readers is a daunting challenge. Here, journalist Tracy Wood shares advice for tackling similar stories in your community.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Seattle is known as a haven for foodies, so it was something of a shameful surprise to discover that Seattle has a food desert in its own backyard.</p>