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 Sabin Russell

<p>There is seldom a single cause of any tragedy or disaster. When the space shuttle Challenger blew up in 1986, it wasn't just that there was a design flaw in the O-rings that were supposed to seal the hot gases within joints of the solid rocket boosters. It was damn cold that morning, and Presiden

Author(s)
By Emily Ramshaw

<p>Nearly half a million Texans live in substandard conditions in <em>colonias</em> —2,300 unincorporated and isolated border towns with limited access to potable water, sewer systems, electricity, sanitary housing or health care. These predominantly Hispanic, overwhelmingly impoverished villages, which dot the 1,248-mile Texas-Mexico border from the Gulf of Mexico to El Paso, present a state public health nightmare. But despite decades of public outcry, campaign promises and legislative action, conditions in the <em>colonias</em> have improved relatively little. Using the Dennis A.

Author(s)
By Peter Lipson

<p><a href="http://www.reportingonhealth.org/blogs/rethinking-blog-networks-and-eth… reported</a> in this space, ScienceBlogs, the popular blog collective that hosts popular blogs such as <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula">Pharyngula </a>and <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/insolence">Respectful Insolence</a>&nbsp;(and my own blog, <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/whitecoatunderground/">White Coat Underground</a>), is having some troubles. &nbsp;</p>

Author(s)
By Barbara Feder Ostrov

<p>Enough of LeBron James, already! Here’s our daily round-up of health news and resources for your work and enjoyment.</p> <p><strong>Gaga Eyes:</strong> So-called “circle lenses” that make your eyes look manga-huge are gaining a following among women channeling their own Lady Gaga. But these over-the-counter, unregulated contact lenses pose <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-07-08-lady-gaga-contacts_N.htm… health risk</a>, reports USA Today, following <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/fashion/04lenses.html">a recent story in the New York Times</a>.</p>

Author(s)
By William Heisel

<p>Even before <a href="../../../../../../../../blogs/chicago%E2%80%99s-buried-bodies-part-3-doctor-discipline-ball-bounces-legislative-court">the Supreme Court of Illinois</a> pulled the rug out from under a patient safety law that allowed consumers to review malpractice histories for doctors, state <a href="http://housedem.state.il.us/members/flowersm/index.htm">Rep. Mary Flowers</a> was looking for a way to repair the damage.

Author(s)
By Angilee Shah

<p>After a 30-year career writing about health, Susan Brinks found herself in the throes of her own medical story.</p> <p>She has been a freelancer since being laid off from the <em>Los Angeles Times</em> in October 2008, and her COBRA -- the post-employment extension of her health insurance -- runs out on July 20.</p>

Author(s)
By Maryn McKenna

<p><em>(Note: <a href="http://www.reportingonhealth.org/users/palmd">Peter Lipson MD</a> and I are both members of Scienceblogs, which imploded spectacularly during the past 24 hours over the managers' decision to accept a paid blog by PepsiCo. Peter cross-posted his&nbsp;</em><a href="http://www.reportingonhealth.org/blogs/rethinking-blog-networks-and-eth… on the controversy</em></a><em> here at RoH, and with the OK of site managers here, I'm doing the same to comment and reply.)</em></p>