Stephan Weller

Stephan Weller is a former journalism professor who runs a newsletter on health care journalism.

Health-related investigations snagged both top spots in the Barlett & Steele Awards for Investigative Business Journalism this year. The awards, funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Business Journalism, judge stories based on “investigative enterprise, strong business theme, writing style, clarity and impact.”

Reuters’ Murray Waas took the top spot, called the Gold Award, for “Diagnosed with Breast Cancer, Dropped by Insurer (PDF)".

“ Reutersand Murray Waas contrasted the public stance of a health care company to the reality behind the scenes, revealing the insidiousness of gate keeping by software,” said the judges. “This investigation led to government pressure and and industry-wide change of the practice of dropping health care coverage for patients-- after they were diagnosed with breast cancer.