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 Barbara Feder Ostrov

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mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} --> <!--[endif]--></p><p>California emergency room doctors fight for their share of state money to treat the poor and uninsured, plus more from our Daily Briefing.</p>

Author(s)
By Barbara Feder Ostrov

<p>Despite reassurances from public health officials that, for now, radioactive fallout from Japan’s worsening nuclear crisis <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/science/17plume.html?_r=1&amp;hp">will have a negligible impact on U.S. shores</a>, Americans nevertheless are making <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014505732_quakepills… ill-considered run on the potassium iodide pills</a> that can prevent radiation-related thyroid cancers.</p>

Author(s)
By Bob Butler

<p>Matthew Crawford wants to be a police officer. Terrell Williams works two jobs and goes to college. Claude Eakins works as an advocate helping young people in the foster care system. They all have two things in common: they, too, were once in the foster care system and they believe media reports