Connecting the dots
Economic inequality has far-reaching effects on issues your newsroom covers every day on all beats. Some news outlets have the staff and resources to create a separate beat tasked with covering economic inequality. If this is you, we recommend this team include reporters from a variety of existing beats, an editor and a visualization specialist. But if that is not you, don’t worry.
By browsing our site, your staff can be brought up to speed on what economic inequality is, why you should care and how to cover it. With this understanding, your newsroom can make a commitment to include context, data and solutions in your everyday writing with minimal effort. Localizing economic inequality will require you to analyze and understand your community and the people who live in it. Below we have compiled a list of topics that relate to or are affected by economic inequality with examples of coverage and suggestions for your reporting. |
Birthrate & Family size
Coverage:
Crime
Coverage
Healthcare
Coverage
Economy
Coverage
Housing
Coverage
Jobs & Wages
Coverage
Mental health
Coverage
Sports
Coverage
Subsidy programs
Coverage
Education
Coverage
Coverage:
- This article by The Economist cites a study that found that in the short term, lower fertility rates could lead to higher inequality within a population.
- What is the birthrate trend in your community? Is family size larger or smaller than the national average? Why and how is it affecting family dynamics and wellbeing?
Crime
Coverage
- This article by Bloomberg View discusses economic inequality as a factor of high crime rates.
- This study looks at the association between homicide rates and income inequality.
- Which areas of your community report the most crime? Are they also areas with significant economic inequality?
Healthcare
Coverage
- This article by the Wall Street Journal cites data that shows the effects of healthcare costs on income inequality.
- This article by The Economist discusses the effect healthcare, specifically the Affordable Care Act, has on American citizens’ incomes.
- Utilize the Freedom of Information Act to request budgets from hospitals, if they aren’t available online. Track how well they’re doing. Are hospitals in lower income areas having more financial trouble?
- Medicare collects information on medical errors from individual hospitals. Get that data for your area and pay attention to hospital occupancy rates. Low occupancy and high medical errors could represent a hospital issue.
Economy
Coverage
- An interesting piece by the New York Times discusses price differences at the retail level depending on neighborhood. The example is for New York, but your state or town may be similar.
- A story done by NBC News discusses the ability for citizens at different income levels to afford holiday gifts.
- A story by the Associated Press discusses Standard & Poor’s report that showed tax revenue growth slows as income inequality rises. In Missouri, income inequality seems to be negatively affecting tax revenues.
- The National Retail Federation reports that the predicted increase in sales this holiday season will be uneven among economic levels.
- The Bureau of Economic Analysis has national, state and regional reports available for use.
- Go to you state auditors website to access audits comparing schools and property tax rates in different areas. See where your county stands and look into what could be affecting the results.
Housing
Coverage
- This piece by the New York Times explores the effect of city layouts on citizens' ability to climb the economic ladder.
- This article by Quartz tells the story of gaps between rich and poor and housing need and supply in San Francisco. Research shows richer cities have less affordable housing.
- An article by the Guardian discusses the recent trend of cities imposing regulations to restrict citizens from giving food to the poor in public places.
- An article by AZCentral explores the trend of more educated people moving away from their hometowns, with the less educated remaining.
- The Equality of Opportunity Project provides graphics and data that show the differences of economic mobility based on where you live in the U.S.
- The National Institute of Low Income Housing Coalition publishes “Out of Reach” each year, a report that discusses the lack of affordable housing in the country. It shows the hourly wage a household must earn in order to afford a two-bedroom rental unit. See where your state ranks.
Jobs & Wages
Coverage
- Coverage by NPR shows the most popular jobs in each income bracket through graphics. What is the breakdown in your city?
- Coverage by the Washington Post discusses the minimum wage and the benefit of workers forming labor unions to better negotiate their needs with management.
- Find where WARN Act notifications are posted for your area, and you can find major layoffs before employees may even know. How will these layoffs affect your area and its economy? Are there trends?
- See how the 50 states and Washington D.C. rank according to economic inequality, median income and poverty.
Mental health
Coverage
- Research found on PLOS One shows a connection between low socioeconomic status and mental health problems. One study shows that poverty-related stress directly relates to symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Research published in the European Sociological Review gives three hypotheses to explain the association between income and health.
- Discuss possible correlations with mental health care providers in your area.
- Those in need may not be able to afford mental health care. Brainstorm ideas to find possible connections between economic inequality and suicide rates, DUI arrests, homelessness, etc.
Sports
Coverage
- This article by SABR discusses and compares economic inequality within Major League Baseball.
- An article from The Grand Rapids Press shows the effects of economic inequality on high school sports programs.
- This article from Inequality.org matched win-loss records of high school football teams in Massachusetts with the median incomes of their communities.
- This article from Real Clear Markets shows how the income structure of the NFL compares with household incomes in the United States.
- Research done by Bridging the Gap recognizes the need for physical activity for children’s health and shows participation in school sports varied by schools’ socioeconomic status, availability of sports facilities and gender.
- Look for trends in your community’s sports teams. Who wins the most and who has the most expensive program? Which programs have greatest parental support?
Subsidy programs
Coverage
- Part of Reuters’ series on the unequal state of America uses data and a personal story to show the state of assistance programs for the able-bodied poor.
- Pulitzer Prize winning coverage by the Washington Post shows how difficult it is to lead a healthy lifestyle on food stamps.
- Pulitzer Prize winning coverage by the Washington Post tells the story of a family dealing with cuts in food stamp allowance.
- What percentage of your town is living on food stamps? Medicaid? Medicare? Listen to their stories and ask how this affects people in your community.
- Assign a reporter to live on food stamps for a week and tell their story.
Education
Coverage
- Part of Reuters’ series on the unequal state of America discusses what educators call the scholastic achievement gap and its connection to economic inequality.
- This story from the Huffington Post discusses the cycle of the academic achievement gap, educational attainment gap and long-term economic and social inequality.
- The New York Times ranked the most economically diverse universities in the country. Are any near you? Have students in your area tried to apply? Who’s been accepted?
- How are students in your area doing academically? Is there a gap in achievement between affluent schools and those that are struggling financially?