Citation

Cooper GS, Brown RC. Epidemiology 2010; 21(2): 263-266.

Affiliation

Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, DC, USA. Cooper.Glinda@epa.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181cb8c3d

PMID

20160563

Abstract

The news industry is undergoing shrinking newspaper circulations, cuts in science and health coverage, and expansion of Internet news sources. We examine the impact of these changes using a case study set in Libby, Montana. In 1999, a Seattle newspaper story focused attention on asbestos exposure and related diseases in this small town. In 2009, that newspaper became an online-only newspaper, just as coverage of a related criminal trial began. Later that year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a public health emergency. Online newspaper archives and a collaboration between the University of Montana's journalism and law schools contributed to coverage of these developments. Continued efforts to promote interest in and skills needed for high-quality public health and environmental reporting are needed.

Language: en