The Journalist’s Resource team picks for 2021
As the year draws to a close, we’re taking a few moments to reflect on some of the pieces that meant a lot to us this year.
Expert Commentary
When public officials spread health misinformation, be quick to point it out: A tip sheet
Some politicians, public officials and a handful of physicians are spreading misinformation. It’s important for journalists to debunk falsehoods high up in their stories, avoid false balance, and dig into the motives.
Expert Commentary
Should kids need parental consent to get the COVID-19 vaccine? Here’s what the research says
Parental consent laws vary by state by the type of health care service. This piece brings you an overview of the issue and lists several studies and resources to help you with your reporting.
Expert Commentary
New research links racism to higher preterm birth rates in Black women
Two new studies add to the mounting evidence that racism — including the legacy of redlining — has an impact on preterm birth rates in the U.S.
Expert Commentary
7 tips for finding local stories in The Lancet’s 2021 health and climate change report
Even for journalists who don’t typically cover climate change, the Lancet Countdown reports are a treasure trove of story ideas that can help explain how extreme weather events affect personal health.
Expert Commentary
Who follows mask guidelines but is still unvaccinated? A new COVID-19 survey explores the answers
A large national survey explores the characteristics of U.S. adults who wear masks but remain unvaccinated and those who are vaccinated but don’t wear masks.
Expert Commentary
4 tips for covering COVID-19 vaccine boosters
Confusion and controversy surrounding COVID-19 vaccine boosters underscore the importance of journalists’ role in clearly explaining the scientific process to the public. Here are four tips to help you with your reporting.
Expert Commentary
COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy: What research shows
We’ve summarized several academic papers that investigate outcomes of COVID-19 — and the vaccines against it — among pregnant individuals.
Expert Commentary
It’s flu season. Here’s what research shows about adult vaccinations
Studies show that Black and Hispanic adults in the U.S. have lower rates of immunization against vaccine-preventable infections compared with white adults.
Expert Commentary
Vaccine hesitancy: A roundup of research summaries and survey data sources
Vaccine hesitancy has taken on a greater urgency because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We summarize several studies on this topic and list data sources that track vaccine hesitancy trends across the U.S.
Expert Commentary