Decline of Health Care News Reporting in NC

Thanks for remembering me. I’m still at it.

But Ferrel’s right. The decline of newspapers has hurt health reporting because there are fewer people devoted to it. There are fewer health sections. We now have sites like Kaiser Health News and niche sites like Mass Device, which covers the medical device industry in the state. Public radio and the national papers do a good job. But, who is keeping tabs on local hospitals, medical schools, state health departments and drug company clusters? These are complex, high-stakes institutions. Reporters covering them need to know how to follow the money, dig though public documents and scrutinize new research and procedures. They need to describe both the wonder and the dysfunction of the health care system. It is not an easy job.

I would like to say that I wrote that hard-hitting story on the biotech malingerer. But, I just linked to it. Like most bloggers, I mostly point to the work of others. I do a little reporting but I would be lost without the Globe, WBUR and other local publications. Like others, I’m looking for new ways to do my reporting. For now, I teach, freelance and blog on the side. Unless I find generous sponsor, it is unlikely my blog will replace what we are losing — full-time, experienced, professional health reporters. Fortunately, we still have a few good ones here in Boston. But, the smaller markets are in trouble.