The Center for Public Integrity and NPR have won a Kavli Science Journalism Award for a 2012 project documenting the resurgence of black lung disease, the American Association for the Advancement of Science announced this week.
The stories — produced online by Center reporter Chris Hamby, and for radio by NPR’s Howard Berkes, Andrea de Leon and Sandra Bartlett — detailed how a disease that was supposed to have been eliminated years ago is now on the rise and affecting younger miners. The reports explored the industry tactics and regulatory failures responsible.
The stories were “a compelling look at the resurgence of an epidemic once thought solved — complete with the science to show why the solution didn’t last,” the organization’s website says.
The nonprofit AAAS gives the award each year to “distinguished reporting for a general audience.” NPR and the Center won in the radio category. The Center’s story was part of the environmental team’s Hard Labor series.
Read the Center’s story here.
Listen to the NPR stories here:
“As Mine Protections Fail, Black Lung Cases Surge”
“Black-Lung Rule Loopholes Leave Miners Vulnerable”