Medical professionals are developing health policy on the fly, as the coronavirus forces quick decisions. Journalists are reporting on the impact as soon as it’s visible.
New York Times investigative reporter Sarah Kliff likens policy to the vegetables of news coverage. It’s the thing you should read, but can seem a little…nutritious, while politics are like the dessert.
At the National Press Club Journalism Institute’s “Covering Policy for the Public” writing workshop earlier this year, Kliff offered advice on how to make policy coverage more palatable.
Draw readers in with a personal connection instead of dryly reciting facts and figures. Show real examples of what is happening around the country. There are clear, personal effects of every policy, so find a character who reflects the consequences of policymaking.
Kliff’s piece, “The case of the $629 Band-Aid — and what it reveals about American health care,” is an example. One family’s trip to the emergency room for a cut finger resulted in a high medical bill. This snapshot emphasizes the way facility fees can vex the American healthcare system and the people who use it.
Use real people to explain a particular policy. “Experts” can be less informed than those affected by a certain policy. Talk to every player in the situation to get a complete picture. “If you collect enough stories, anecdotes start turning into a data set,” Kliff said.
Keep the article focused by highlighting only the most compelling narratives, even if you talk to dozens of sources. (You can always save characters for a follow-up piece.)
For example, Kliff’s article on a “$20,243 bike crash” uses the story of injured cyclist Nina Dang to illustrate how Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center’s billing practices can cost privately insured patients tens of thousands of dollars for care that would likely cost them significantly less at other hospitals.
Break your article into multiple sections and weave the personal perspective throughout. Subheads will help readers stay on track.
Here’s an example from The New York Times that incorporates the story of a patient who was billed by an assistant surgeon he did not know was on his case to show the practice of “drive-by doctoring.” The reporter, Elisabeth Rosenthal, strikes a balance between narrative and facts with the help of subheads and story structure.
And finally, sometimes there are details you need to omit, and that’s okay. Ask yourself if a particular background detail will drive the story forward or needlessly complicate it.
Coming soon: Kliff’s tips on how to find the right people for your policy story.
Watch her session at our writing workshop here.