I've had several 'careers' -- secretary, mother, college student, auditor/manager, and volunteer. My education and job experience are in accounting/auditing but I've had an interest in journalism since childhood. In retirement, Ive maintained several organizations' web pages and edited our parish's 8-page newsletter. I joined NewsTrust because I'm a news junkie and very interested in keeping journalism truthful -- there is way too much misleading spin out there, leading to what in my opinion are poor choices.
Not sure why this is put in the Opinion category? Ms. Cooper is reporting on the opinion of others, with a variety of quotes from different perspectives. Perhaps it is because the nuns' position makes more sense and the reporting makes that clear?
The story is a very good explanation of many considerations affecting legislative decisions about medical malpractice lawsuits.
I didn't have a strongly held opinion on this subject but was leaning toward supporting some kind of caps. This article gives me information I did not have before. I still support caps, but realize it is not 'either - or' if all related issues are to be addressed.
I’m guessing this is the editorial for Sunday, November 22 even though it was posted Friday evening. It was not in today’s print edition. I had to check that because though I’m a fan of the Post-Dispatch opinion page, I usually don’t read the editorials and ... More »
To the best of my knowledge, there has been no "McDonnell Douglas" for more than ten years. After the 'merger,' it is Boeing. Makes me wonder about the rest of the story. Overall it seems a bit disjointed, like the writer did a google search or two and picked a sentence here and a sentence there.
I saw this interview and thought it was very believable. Mr. Potter's opinion obviously is not the whole story, but he does point out the pressures on the insurance executives to meet Wall Street expections.
Short-term Wall Street 'expectations' have long long destroyed jobs and other aspects of our economy. Wish a broadcast network would do nightly segments on the subject until it finally breaks up the concrete mindset in 'business' heads. I've long believed universal health care is absolutely necessary -- my own plan is that everyone have the federal employees' plan -- an ability to choose from a variety of insurers. And that the federal government subsidize the premiums on a ... More »
Sorry -- I'm not evaluating this for good journalism, but it is obvious to me the writer is young (or really old and forgetful). There was a board game called "Credibility Gap" during the Johnson administration, which reflected the distrust toward authorities who had lied to us about the Vietnam War.
A great many named sources, including General McCaffrey, lead me to believe the content and to be disappointed in General McCaffrey and all those who did not find it 'necessary' to reveal his conflicts of interest.
From the standpoint of telling the story accurately, I believe it is good journalism. I worked for DCAA for 20 years (1978-1998) and have experienced record delays similar to those in this report. I also think it is important for this issue to be publicized because money is being wasted in many ways when contractors are not cooperative.
This story gave me information I did not have before, which allows me to more fully evaluate the value of military analysts.
This report uses several sources, not all complimentary of General Petraeus, which is a surprise given all the 8-second sound bites I've heard about his greatness. Like everyone else, he has good points and not-so-good points. Hope politicians who have been fawning over him listened to this report.
The primary source is a draft audit report but the article also contains an admissission of the problems by Defense and Interior officials. It does not contain a defense of outsourcing. I have been involved in auditing Defense contracts and have seen the cycles of loosening and restricting of regulations. It's strange -- the DoD outsources to the DoI, which outsources to a private contractor, which does not follow standard federal procurement policies. This is supposed to save money but it instead costs more.
This story uses a 'secret' report to cover important information about the ability of Iraqi insurgents to continue funding the insurgency. Some sources are skeptical of the basis of the report and the report itself acknowledges problems actually tracing money flow. Other sources though confirm the key thrust of the report -- that the insurgency is having no trouble regenerating itself.
Fascinating and important information about post-deregulation methods of pricing electric service -- includes examples of practices that thwart the intention of bringing the price of electricity down by introducing competition.
Not lots of detail, but good overall information about changes coming in Medicare. Some background info. Eight second soundbyte opinions from both sides.
The narrative gives two viewpoints of the recent legislation. In the later discussion of possible high court action, there is a statement that 'the new legislation spells out' under what standard Americans can be enemy combatants -- this seems to contradict the two interpretations of that standard given in the beginning of the piece.
Jon Stewart provides a great perspective on the tough talk from lightweights. Would that these children could duke it out in the ring and leave the rest of us to live productively in peace.
Informative story with some facts and some anecdotes on the way states are helping young adults cope with the continuing health insurance crisis....and the possible impact on insurance companies.
Fascinating account of test results with one woman in a vegetative state. Obviously, there is a lot more to be studied. Several opinions are given about the significance of the test. The fact that a negative test would not prove conclusive is repeated twice in the story.
Informative article about an important subject. The primary source is the study just released. Info is given about the study findings, methods and numbers, as well as very brief statements about other aspects of autism.
This is a report about one expert's opinion, which is that the federal government should back up insurers in providing health insurance to small businesses. The question and answer format are very helpful for understanding the current problems and proposed solution. Also included are links to previous articles with more specific background information. However, there is no counter opinion offered.
The study was done by the Massachusetts Department of Health. It is not clear how data submitted by the tobacco companies to the state (third paragraph) related to the study.
I rated this a 4 for good journalism, keeping in mind that an opinion piece does not necessarily present all sides. This column includes many facets of the problem and provides much information and several sources for the opinion it represents. There is little input from the local and federal governments that are criticized in the piece.
This news analysis is well sourced and informative, but I wish we could receive facts and opinions without dragging in their possible effect on elections....that just adds to the continuing partisanship.
A solid report on a divisive subject, it provides information about the new method and various opinions on whether it is more acceptable than the current method for embryonic stem cell research. It does not seem to illuminate the credibility of the finding and whether others will be able to duplicate it.
Informative story calling into question whether doctors make decisions based on how much money they will make from different courses of treatment. Those supporting the doctors say that they have good results, but the author doesn't point out that those good results could be from performing unnecessary procedures on people who are not especially sick. But even with the supporters quoted, the thrust of the story is that the doctors must be performing unnecessary procedures because the study shows that they have a higher number than would be expected.
The first woman in the story can be used by supporters of health savings accounts. When she had to start paying full price for her medications, she and her doctor found a way to reduce the number of medications she takes. There are many answers to the question posed at the end, including the people who used to go to Canada and will probably end up paying more this year despite having some of the cost covered at the beginning of the year. There are lots of pieces to this puzzle that should have been given lots more consideration when the legislation was drafted. The article touches on a few but is by no means comprehensive.
Informative story about the Clinton-Gates presentation at the AIDS conference. In reporting on the presentation, the author provides information about the status of their and others efforts. Credit is given to the Bush administration. There is no discussion of Catholic Church objections to some prevention methods. Just an observation -- an AP report on this same conference began with Bill Gates, instead of Bill Clinton.
The specifics of the administration's proposal are not provided until later in the article, but overall it is well sourced and informative.
Associated Press article on NYT web site. Hopeful news that the governors are seeking ways of addressing the health care crisis instead of wringing their hands and waiting for the federal government to solve all problems. Several examples are given of new state initiatives and suggestions. Republican and Democratic opinions -- only outside opinion is from a liberal think tank.
Informative article blending anecdotes, facts, and various points of view about the increasing desire to treat infertility and the related costs. Though the coverage mostly concerns the cost and insurance coverage (or lack thereof) for fertility treatments, I suspect the timing of the article may also have something to do with an embryonic stem cell research ballot initiative in Missouri's November's election. Presenting sympathetic views of couples undergoing invitro fertilization lays the groundwork for accepting the existence of unused embryos which could be used in research.
An excellent comprehensive report on a little reported phenomenon -- men who are not working and not counted as unemployed. The story is told mostly through anecdotes, but contains some supporting statistics and 'expert' commentary.
Story is about seniors who now have to pay more for their prescription drugs because they are in the 'gap' designed into the system. It mentions but does not spend much time on the difference between what seniors are paying under the prescription drug plan and what they paid when there was no drug plan. The article also does not make clear that the threshhold for entering the gap is total cost of drugs (paid by senior and insurer) and not just the out-of-pocket cost for the senior.
This article gives a few basics about Rep. Stark's proposal and brief comments about differing approaches. I, for one, am grateful that a method of universal health care is being brought to the Democratic table and hopefully to the national spotlight.
Both sides of the embryonic stem cell research debate are given voice in this article though its protaganist is in favor of expanding such research. An interesting aside to the debate going on in DC and some of the states.
I respect the intelligence and work of a great many priests and nuns, but in this case the nuns' rationale has it all over the bishops' silly posturing.