"At least you've got your health."

	Chris Mosby

That old adage has been around almost as long as humans have been. But the passage of time hasn't simplified the administering of medicine and it certainly hasn't made the topic easier to understand. As journalists, how do we cover something as expansive, multifaceted and wide-reaching as healthcare?

Between insurance changes, mergers and acquisitions among hospital systems, budgetary cuts, system expansions and new procedures, there's a lot of ground to cover. Not to mention that the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospital healthcare systems are two of Cleveland's largest employers. We should ask ourselves, how do we as the public consume that news? As reporters, how do we identify the most important stories and make complex subjects understandable for all audiences?

 

These are some of the questions and topics that our expert panel will explore during our next event, "Healthy Journalism: Covering healthcare in Northeast Ohio." With insight from Lydia Coutré, Crain's Cleveland Business, Monica Robins, WKYC, and Brie Zeltner, Cleveland Plain Dealer, attendees will be treated to unique insights from print and broadcast journalists.

 

Learn how each reporter unearths leads, tracks down sources, breaks down complicated research and creates compelling, healthcare articles and videos. Additionally, feel free to come armed with questions because we'll save time for a Q&A session with the panel.

 

The event is free and open to the public. I'd love to see you all at John Carroll University's Jardine Room on April 22 at 7 p.m. For first-time visitors, head to the university's Belvoir Blvd. entrance and parking lot, enter the Recreation  Center doors off that parking lot and follow posted signage (featuring the SPJ logo) to the Jardine Room. There are maps and directions to the college here. For old pros, you know where you're going.