Poynter Launches Series on How to Cover the Affordable Care Act

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Poynter Institute, an international leader in journalism education, has launched an initiative to provide teaching and resources to help journalists cover the federal Affordable Care Act – and what it means to the public. The multifaceted project aims to help simplify a complicated topic for journalists and their audiences.

"The implementation of the ACA is one of the most important stories of our time, and it's also one of the most complex," said Poynter's dean of faculty Stephen Buckley. "Poynter's goal is to be a place for journalists of all kinds to get the resources they need to cover this story in a way that's smart and nuanced and factual."

Health care experts from top media organizations across the country will write a series of articles for Poynter's website, www.poynter.org, while Poynter's e-learning site, News University, www.newsu.org, will produce accompanying online interviews between Poynter faculty and the health reporters, allowing viewers to ask questions and participate in the discussions. Among the experts are Julie Rovner, National Public Radio (NPR); Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal, The New York Times; Joanne Kenen, Politico and the Association of Health Care Journalists; Sarah Kliff, The Washington Post; and Kay Lazar, The Boston Globe.

"The Poynter.org stories will offer valuable insights, story ideas and tips that can help journalists improve their coverage of the ACA," said Poynter.org managing editor Mallary Tenore. "We hope to help both health care reporters and general assignment reporters who are tasked with covering this difficult topic."

Poynter's director of interactive learning/NewsU, Vicki Krueger, underscored the value of access to timely information online. "We are delighted to offer this innovative program connecting veteran health journalists with those who want to tell powerful stories about this critical topic. Through the articles on Poynter.org and the live discussions on Poynter NewsU, anyone can tap into industry expertise in a way that meets their schedule and budget."

Poynter and the health writers will tackle a variety of questions, including those aimed at how to simplify the complicated; where to find resources when covering the healthcare industry; how to avoid biases and report fairly; how to localize national policy; and how to find examples of best practices. Replays of Poynter's online discussions will be archived. Please visit www.newsu.org/courses/covering-affordable-care-act.

To wrap up the initiative, Poynter will host a workshop dedicated to ACA coverage early in 2014. Poynter senior faculty Al Tompkins and Butch Ward will lead the two-day, in-person session and provide participants with a solid framework for covering the implementation of the ACA by exploring the legislation's most complex features. The workshop will be offered to journalists from around the country free of charge.

"As we look to 2014, we'll offer more of this kind of multi-platform teaching," said Buckley. "By drawing on Poynter's own proficiencies and our unique ability to convene the experts, we can provide journalists with the tools to cover the important issues of our day with accuracy, depth and context – in person or online."

About The Poynter Institute
The Poynter Institute for Media Studies is an international leader in journalism education, and a thought leader that stands for uncompromising excellence in journalism, media and 21st century public discourse. Poynter faculty teach seminars and workshops at the Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla., and at conferences and organizational sites around the world. Its e-learning division, News University, www.NewsU.org, offers the world's largest online journalism curriculum, with more than 250 interactive courses and 240,000 students. The Institute's website, www.Poynter.org, produces 24-hour coverage of news about media, ethics, technology, the business of news and the trends that currently define and redefine journalism news reporting. The world's top journalists and media innovators come to Poynter to learn and teach new generations of reporters, storytellers, media inventors, designers, visual journalists, documentarians and broadcast producers, and to build public awareness about journalism, media, the First Amendment and protected discourse that serves democracy and the public good.

CONTACT: 

Mallary Tenore
Managing Editor
Poynter.org
[email protected]
727-821-9494

Vicki Krueger
Director. Interactive Learning
The Poynter Institute
[email protected]
727-821-9494

Jessica Blais
Marketing Director
The Poynter Institute
[email protected]
727-821-9494

SOURCE The Poynter Institute

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