Monday, March 26, 2012

Foster care in West Virginia: A small newspaper breaks a big story

            Every once in awhile an enterprising reporter writes a story that amounts to an x-ray of a child welfare agency’s soul.  The picture always is ugly.  But no other story I’ve ever read is more searing than the story that appeared last week in a West Virginia weekly, the Spirit of Jefferson.

            What makes this story even more exceptional is that such a big story, and so much dogged reporting, came from such a small newspaper.  The story is behind a very low “paywall” – it will cost you all of fifteen cents to read.  The short time it takes to sign up is more of a barrier.  It’s worth every minute.