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The Journalist's Resource, Cambridge, MA (2025)

01/28/2025

🌍 7 tips for reporting on immigration

Published January 2023, this research-based piece offers advice for journalists covering immigration.

📌 3 quick takeaways:
• Avoid dehumanizing language: Use precise neutral terms when describing immigration status and processes.
• Context is key: Frame immigration stories within historical, legal and policy contexts for better public understanding.
• Diverse sources matter: Include voices from immigrants, advocates, policymakers and experts for balanced coverage.

📝 3 reporting tips:
1. Understand the law: Brush up on immigration policies and terminology to report accurately and avoid oversimplifications.
2. Highlight systemic issues: Go beyond individual stories to explore broader trends and structural challenges in immigration.
3. Combat misinformation: Fact-check widely held myths about immigration with reliable data and research.

Gain insights for well-rounded immigration coverage from five experts — plus, a trove of resources to inform your immigration reporting.

01/27/2025

🎓 19 higher education databases every journalist should know

Published December 2024, this research-based piece lists essential databases to help you investigate trends, uncover local angles and add depth to your reporting on higher education.

📌 3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• Access key data on college costs, enrollment trends and graduation rates from trusted sources like NCES and IPEDS.
• Explore datasets on student debt, faculty diversity and campus crime to inform your stories.
• Many of these databases provide national and state-level insights, helping you localize your reporting.

📝 3 reporting tips:
1. Follow the money: Use financial aid and tuition data to highlight affordability challenges and their impact on students.
2. Look at disparities: Analyze data on race, gender, and socioeconomic status to uncover inequities in higher education.
3. Ask better questions: Combine quantitative data with interviews to bring context and human stories to the numbers.

We spotlight free higher education databases that offer information on U.S. student demographics, campus safety, faculty pay and other topics.

01/23/2025

🏫 The future of the U.S. Department of Education under Trump’s second term

Published Jan. 23, 2025, this research-based piece examines President Trump’s proposal to close the U.S. Department of Education and offers eight tips for journalists covering potential changes to the agency.

📌 3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• The Department of Education oversees programs across all education levels, with an annual budget of approximately $242 billion.
• President Trump has pledged to close the department, a move supported by some Republican state leaders and members of Congress.
• Even if the department remains, significant policy shifts are anticipated, including efforts to limit certain educational programs and requirements.

📝 3 reporting tips:
1. Monitor state-level actions: Investigate how state education departments are preparing for potential federal policy changes.
2. Consult experts: Interview education historians and policy analysts to provide context on the feasibility and implications of closing the department.
3. Track funding impacts: Examine how proposed federal changes could affect funding for local schools and educational programs.

We offer eight tips to help you interrogate and contextualize President Trump's plan to close the U.S. Department of Education.

01/22/2025

📈 Looking for economic data sources? Published earlier this month, this research-based piece highlights essential economic data sources to help you understand trends, uncover stories, and bring context to your reporting.

📌 3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• Government agencies like the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics offer reliable data on employment, income and population trends.
• Federal Reserve reports, such as the Beige Book, provide regional insights into economic conditions.
• Nonprofits and think tanks often analyze government data, adding valuable context for reporting.

We spotlight 8 free data sources journalists can use to report on economic issues ranging from GDP and inflation to economic inequality.

01/22/2025

Great new resource from SciLine 👇

Evidence-based reporting toolkit is live! Discover tips on incorporating science into news stories, register for trainings, and check out background briefings and expert interviews on some of the most contested issues newsrooms will confront in 2025. https://bit.ly/4gUTQwt

The Open Notebook
The Journalist's Resource
Association of Health Care Journalists
Society of Environmental Journalists
Climate Central
The Conversation US

01/13/2025

Amid the devastating wildfires currently ravaging California, it’s crucial to understand the long-term health impacts of such events. Published in July 2023, this research-based piece delves into the prolonged health consequences of wildfire exposure, including respiratory and cardiovascular issues, mental health challenges and the heightened risks faced by vulnerable populations.

3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that can pe*****te deep into the lungs, leading to chronic respiratory conditions.
• Exposure to wildfires is linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among affected populations.
• Children, older adults and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are at greater risk of adverse health effects from wildfire exposure.

Exposure to wildfires and smoke may have long-term negative impacts on general health and mental health, according to a review of 36 studies.

01/10/2025

Check out our latest comics journalism piece, which explores a study of an intervention aimed at reducing blood pressure among local church parishioners with uncontrolled hypertension.

This nonfiction comic explores an intervention aimed at reducing hypertension among the congregants of several churches in West Chicago.

01/08/2025

📝 Lessons for reporting on hot-button topics

This tip sheet is based on a July 2024 webinar and includes insights from abortion coverage to help journalists navigate the challenges of reporting on controversial issues.

📌 3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• Nuance matters: Avoid framing complex issues in overly simplistic terms.
• Science communication plays a critical role in fostering public understanding, especially on polarizing topics.
• Balancing empathy with evidence is key when covering emotionally charged stories.

📝 3 reporting tips:
1. Do your homework: Ensure you fully understand the scientific, legal, and cultural dimensions of the topic.
2. Prioritize diverse voices: Seek perspectives from experts and individuals with lived experience.
3. Anticipate audience reactions: Use clear, accurate language to address potential misunderstandings or biases.

Insights and video recording from a recent online discussion with an NPR reporter and a social scientist who studies abortion news coverage

01/07/2025

🚗 What journalists need to know about electric vehicles

Published in August 2022, our research-based piece rounds up key studies on EV adoption, environmental impact and challenges in the shift to cleaner transportation.

📌 3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• EVs reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to gas-powered vehicles, but the benefits depend on how electricity is generated.
• Battery production has environmental trade-offs, including resource extraction and energy use.
• EV adoption is influenced by policies, incentives and charging infrastructure availability.

📝 3 reporting tips:
1. Localize the impact: Investigate how EV adoption and policies are shaping transportation in your area.
2. Highlight challenges: Explore barriers like charging infrastructure gaps or high costs for lower-income households.
3. Use clear comparisons: Provide context by comparing EV emissions to traditional vehicles over their lifecycles.

Electric vehicles are a long way from dominating personal transportation in the U.S. Research highlighted here explores challenges for EVs.

01/06/2025

📈 Key economic data sources every journalist should know
Published today, Jan. 6, 2025, this research-based piece highlights essential economic data sources to help you understand trends, uncover stories and bring context to your reporting.

📌 3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• Government agencies like the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics offer reliable data on employment, income, and population trends.
• Federal Reserve reports, such as the Beige Book, provide regional insights into economic conditions.
• Nonprofits and think tanks often analyze government data, adding valuable context for reporting.

Happy digging!

We spotlight 8 free data sources journalists can use to report on economic issues ranging from GDP and inflation to economic inequality.

01/03/2025

The U.S. Surgeon General issued a new advisory today calling for cancer warning label on alcoholic beverages.

🍷 This expert commentary, published in August 2024, explores the nuanced science behind alcohol’s health effects and why simple answers don’t capture the full picture.

📌 3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• Moderate drinking is associated with some health benefits, but causation remains unproven.
• Heavy alcohol consumption significantly increases risks for cancer, liver disease, and other health issues.
• New research challenges past assumptions, emphasizing individual factors like genetics and lifestyle.

📝 3 reporting tips:
1. Avoid oversimplifications: Present the complexity of alcohol research rather than framing it as entirely “good” or “bad.”
2. Seek context: Include historical shifts in alcohol guidelines to show how recommendations evolve with new science.
3. Highlight disparities: Report on how alcohol-related health risks differ across populations and socioeconomic groups.

“We need more high-quality evidence to assess the health impacts of moderate alcohol consumption," write two Harvard health researchers.

01/02/2025

🌟 Happy 2025! 🌟

As we start the new year, we wanted to highlight one of our articles about hope.

Published last January, this research-based piece explores what science says about hope, its role in shaping human behavior, and its implications across health, education and public policy.

📌 3 quick takeaways:
• Hope is more than optimism—it’s linked to goal-setting and strategies for overcoming challenges.
• Research shows hopeful individuals are more likely to achieve better health, academic, and social outcomes.
• Community-level hope can influence public health and economic resilience during crises.

Hope is complex, but as we embark on a challenging year of news, it’s important for journalists to learn about it. We’ve gathered several studies below to help you think more deeply about hope and recognize its role in our everyday lives.

12/20/2024

💧 What journalists need to know about fluoride research
Published Dec. 17, 2024, this research-based piece reviews recent studies on fluoride in drinking water, examining its health benefits, levels in community water systems and public policy implications.

📌 3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• Fluoridation is widely credited with reducing tooth decay, but debates over safety persist.
• Research explores possible links between high fluoride exposure and cognitive development, though findings are mixed.
• Fluoridation policies vary globally, reflecting differences in public health priorities and concerns.

📝 3 reporting tips:
1. Explore the data: Use local water fluoridation statistics to contextualize your story for your audience.
2. Balance perspectives: Include expert insights alongside community voices to present a full picture of the debate.
3. Look beyond the headlines: Examine the methodology and limitations of fluoride studies to accurately report their findings.

To help journalists, we read through dozens of published research papers and unpacked several recent studies about fluoride in water.

12/19/2024

🚰 What journalists need to know about fluoride in drinking water
Published Dec. 17, 2024, this research-based piece answers 15 common questions about fluoride, including what it is, who enforces it, and how safe and effective it is.

📌 3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• Fluoride is added to drinking water in many U.S. communities to prevent tooth decay.
• While considered safe by most experts, some studies suggest potential risks at high exposure levels.
• Fluoridation policies can spark local debates, blending health, politics, and public opinion.

📝 3 reporting tips:
1. Understand local practices: Research your community’s water fluoridation levels and any recent policy changes.
2. Engage experts: Interview dental and public health professionals to balance the scientific perspective in your story.
3. Address concerns: Include voices from residents and stakeholders to reflect the diversity of opinions on fluoridation.

We scoured published academic research to find answers to 15 commonly asked questions about fluoride in water.

12/18/2024

💊 What journalists need to know about pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)
Published Dec. 6, 2024, this research-based piece examines how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) operate and their role in the prescription drug industry.

📌 3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• PBMs act as intermediaries between drug manufacturers, pharmacies, and insurers, influencing drug prices and access.
• Critics argue PBMs contribute to high drug costs and a lack of pricing transparency.
• Federal and state lawmakers are increasing scrutiny on PBM practices through investigations and proposed regulations.

📝 3 reporting tips:
1. Follow the money: Investigate how PBM contracts impact drug pricing and pharmacy reimbursements in your region.
2. Highlight patient stories: Report on how PBM practices affect medication affordability and access for individuals.
3. Keep an eye on legislation: Track local and federal efforts to regulate PBMs and explore their potential impact.

Pharmacy benefit managers, created to negotiate better deals for consumers on medicines, instead have sometimes driven up drug prices.

12/18/2024

🔒 What journalists need to know about child access prevention laws
Published in October 2024, this research-based piece explores how child access prevention (CAP) laws impact gun safety and reduce firearm injuries among children.

📌 3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• CAP laws hold gun owners accountable if minors access fi****ms due to improper storage.
• Research shows these laws reduce unintentional firearm injuries and suicides among children.
• Enforcement and public awareness vary widely across states, affecting their effectiveness.

📝 3 reporting tips:
1. Localize the issue: Investigate whether CAP laws exist in your state and how they’re enforced.
2. Highlight prevention efforts: Report on programs promoting safe firearm storage in your community.
3. Use data responsibly: Incorporate local and national statistics to contextualize gun safety stories.

We look at what the research says about whether child access prevention and safe storage laws work to prevent gun violence.

12/17/2024

🖼️ How journalists can tackle visual health misinformation
From misleading charts to manipulated images, visual health misinformation is on the rise. This research-based piece helps you identify and counter visual falsehoods in your reporting.

📌 3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• Visual misinformation spreads faster than text-based content, often exploiting trust in visuals.
• Common tactics include mislabeling, decontextualizing, or altering images to mislead audiences.
• Fact-checking tools and techniques for verifying visuals are essential in today’s media landscape.

📝 3 reporting tips:
1. Vet your visuals: Always verify images, charts, or videos before sharing or embedding them in your reporting.
2. Educate your audience: Explain how to spot visual misinformation, helping readers develop critical media literacy.
3. Collaborate with experts: Work with fact-checkers or visual forensic specialists to ensure accuracy in sensitive stories.

🔗 (Pub: 1/11/23)

With rapid advances in technology, it’s becoming easier to create and spread visual content that’s inaccurate, misleading and dangerous.

12/16/2024

🏫 Chronic absenteeism and the role of school nurses
New research sheds light on how school nurses can reduce chronic absenteeism and improve student outcomes. This research-based piece helps you uncover the connection between health and attendance.

📌 3 quick takeaways for journalists:
• Chronic absenteeism affects 28% of U.S. students, with significant academic and health implications.
• Schools with full-time nurses see reduced absenteeism, especially for students with chronic health issues.
• Investing in school health services can yield long-term educational and public health benefits.

📝 3 reporting tips:
1. Localize the data: Investigate absenteeism rates in your area and whether schools have sufficient nursing staff.
2. Highlight equity gaps: Explore how a lack of school health resources disproportionately affects underserved communities.
3. Include student voices: Talk to students and families about how health issues impact school attendance and performance.

We examine the rise in chronic absenteeism among public school students in the U.S. and how school nurses can help.

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