Articles

Gerald Loeb Award, finalist in explanatory category
Pulliam First Amendment Award from Sigma Delta Chi
Investigative Reporters and Editors, finalist in medium print/online category
Association of Health Care Journalists, winner in health policy (large) category

Deadly Delays

For 6 months, my colleagues and I investigated the country's newborn screening system, which touches nearly every baby born in the U.S.

I analyzed data from more than 3 million newborn screening tests to show how hospitals throughout the country were late sending babies' blood samples to state labs. Working with a developer, we built an interactive so parents could see how their state and hospital fared in screening infants for serious genetic disorders. The investigation led to changes in hospitals and labs throughout the country, as well as state and federal law.

Main investigation: Delays at hospitals across the country undermine newborn screening programs, putting babies at risk of disability and death (Nov. 16, 2013)

Follow-up investigation: Secrecy clouds efforts to track newborn blood tests (Dec. 30, 2013)

I wrote more than a dozen follow-up stories throughout 2014 and 2015. Here are a few:

States moving quickly to end delays in newborn screening programs (Dec. 11, 2013)

Days after newborn screening reform, a baby's life is saved (Nov. 8, 2014)

U.S. House passes newborn screening reforms (June 24, 2014)

Hospital group to post how quickly newborn screens are sent to lab (March 7, 2014)

My colleagues worked on other stories for this series. All content is at www.jsonline.com/deadlydelays.

Download PDF

Journalism awards for this series in 2014

Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting, winner
Livingston Award for Young Journalists, winner in national reporting
Scripps Howard, winner in investigative reporting, finalist for public service
Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, finalist
Investigative Reporters and Editors, winner, and finalist for FOI Award
Gerald Loeb Award, winner in small and medium newspaper category
Associated Press Media Editors (APME), first place three categories: public service, first amendment, and innovation in investigative journalism
ASNE award for non-deadline writing
Association of Health Care Journalists, first place in investigative reporting
Society of American Business Editors and Writers, first place in investigative
National Headliner Award, first place for public service
Taylor Family Award for Fairness from the Nieman Foundation
Online News Association, investigative data journalism, large news category