Statehouse News Bureau capstone projects shine light on Obamacare, Ohio prisons

by Robert Stewart, Director; Professor

In case you missed them, the capstone projects produced by our three “fellows” taking part in the Statehouse News Bureau program this past fall are worthy of your attention.

Two of the three public affairs projects focused on issues related to Ohio prisons. Michael Locklear, a senior broadcast journalism major, looked at the slow pace of efforts to reduce the prison population in the state as a cost-saving measure.

“Ohio prison reform slower than expected,” by Michael Locklear, WOUB News

(December 13, 2012) — Decrease the number of inmates in Ohio’s prisons and save taxpayers money. That was the idea behind a sentencing reform law backed by state legislators on both sides of the aisle. It took effect last September, but more than a year later, WOUB’s Michael Locklear reports the legislation hasn’t worked as quickly as some had hoped.

Pamela Engel‘s front-page story in the December 30, 2012 Columbus Dispatch looked at the dangers inherent in the state’s facilities that house teenages.

“Ohio’s youngest inmates have become its most dangerous,” by Pamela Engel, The Columbus Dispatch

(December 30, 2012) — The most violent prisons in Ohio aren’t the maximum-security facilities or those housing Death Row inmates. They’re those holding teenager.

Kate Irby‘s Cleveland Plain Dealer report examined efforts by officials in Ohio to respond to mandates outlined in the Affordable Care Act.

“Ohio weighing lots of factors before deciding whether to expand Medicaid,” by Kate Irby, The Cleveland Plain Dealer

(December 24, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — Many major provisions in the federal Affordable Care Act — known as Obamacare — don’t kick in until 2014, but that doesn’t mean state officials can sit on their hands.

Now only in its second year, our Statehouse News Bureau is becoming a signature part of our public affairs reporting curriculum. I’m very proud of these three projects and what they represent: well-reported stories on important topics that matter to the taxpayers and residents of Ohio.

Hats off to Michael, Pamela and Kate, as well as to Tom Suddes, who supervises the students in this program. And we are grateful to all who support it, including the Scripps Howard Foundation, The Columbus Dispatch, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, WOUB and Ohio University’s Center for Public Media, the Statehouse News Bureau of Ohio’s public broadcast outlets, as well as our friends at Kent State University and the University of Cincinnati.

Kate Irby discusses her experience in the Statehouse News Bureau.

January 8, 2013