A dozen exceptional stories from 2018 that deserve our ongoing attention.
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How Hospitals Are Failing Black Mothers
In the latest entry of ProPublica’s Lost Mothers series, which looks at maternal care in the U.S., Annie Waldman examines how black mothers who deliver at hospitals that disproportionately serve black patients are more likely to suffer serious complications.
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from Renee Montagne and Nina Martin, Michael Hobbes, Rebecca Traister, Naima Coster, and Kristen Roupenian.
‘What Are We Going to Do About Tyler?’
A devastating indictment of America’s failure to treat mental illness. ProPublica reporter Sarah Smith tells the story of Tyler Haire, who was sent to jail at age 16 for a violent crime and then spent years locked away while waiting for a psychological evaluation. Tyler struggled since early childhood, but state services are underfunded and […]
A Frustrating Year of Reporting on Black Maternal Health
Stories of women of color dying of childbirth have dominated headlines — but little has been done to change postpartum care.
How ProPublica and NPR Changed the Narrative About Maternity Care in America
Reporters Nina Martin and Renee Montagne go behind the scenes of their multi-part series on women who die in childbirth.
The Far Right’s Fight Against Race-Conscious School Admissions
Jeff Sessions and the Justice Department rescinded Obama-era policy documents that provided guidelines on affirmative action.
Black Women’s Maternal Mortality Rates in the US are Staggeringly High
Shalon Irving was educated, insured, and well-supported by family and friends. She still became a casualty of missed opportunities and neglect by healthcare providers.
Longreads Best of 2017: Science, Technology, and Business Writing
We asked writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year in various categories. Here is the best in business, tech, and science writing.

