Beacon to enhance health coverage, partners with print outlet

ST LOUIS, MO (November 16, 2009) The not-for-profit online regional news organization St. Louis Beacon recently received two grants to enhance health reporting over the next year. The Beacon received a $100,000 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health and full-time staff reporter Bob Joiner received a $7,000 grant from the Dennis A. Hunt Fund for Health Journalism.

The Missouri Foundation for Health grant funds a dedicated health reporter, news technology and research support. The Dennis A. Hunt grant was awarded to report on health issues in the St. Louis region disproportionately affecting minorities - specifically infant mortality, sexually transmitted diseases, obesity-related illnesses, and lead poisoning.

"By having the capacity to look at health care issues and how they affect the St. Louis Region on many levels and from many points of view, we hope to give a better understanding of what’s at stake," says Margaret Freivogel, Beacon editor. "Because health care is – and will continue to be - such a central issue, expanding our coverage of it is central to our mission."

Last month, a five part in-depth series on the history of health care in America was published in the Beacon, then printed in full over five days in the Columbia Tribune (Columbia, MO). This reporting was funded in part by the Missouri Health Foundation grant. Reporting enhanced by both grants will fit in perfectly with the Beacon's "Race, Frankly," project - a year long series of events, in-depth reporting and video pieces in partnership with the Missouri History Museum and KETC/Channel 9. The project is presented on the Beacon site and in conjunction with the museum's exhibit,"Race: Are We So Different?", which opens in January 2010.

"Our business model is not to rely solely on grants and memberships, but they will always remain an important part of our revenue mix," says Nicole Hollway, Beacon General Manager. "Knowing that foundations respect and support the type of reporting we aim to do - deep dives on community specific issues enhanced by partnerships with other mediums and organizations - is encouraging."