Investigative journalism is alive and well

The article “Foreign Interpreters Hurt in Battle Find U.S. Insurance Benefits Wanting” by T. Christian Miller investigated the claims of mistreatment from insurance companies of injured interpreters employed to aid troops during the Iraq War.

The propublica.org and the Los Angeles Times co-published article investigated claims that injured interpreters benefits from insurance companies were not meeting what was originally promised. Many of them not qualifying for coverage due to lack of paper work and others being bullied into accepting a settlement much lower than what was promised.

The article is well written, well researched and not overly graphic in nature. Though it is dealing with interpreters who were injured during the war, the journalist does not linger on the injuries inflicted to promote sympathy for them. It focuses only on the evidence derived from interviews, documents and insurance claims.

The evidence Miller found to support the claims came from interviews, corporate documents and data on insurance claims. Miller explained each individual interpreter in different sections, with their account followed by the counter from the accused.

In supporting claims and seeking responses from the parties involved, Miller cited statements from insurers, the Labor Department and internal AIG documents.

The use of graphics in the story aided the readers experience and did not merely repeat the facts of the story. The graphics illustrate where the interpreters are from by state or nation. Though this specific story is specifically about foreign contractors, many of the contractors are also American.

This article is informative for current war contractors, and might spark the interest of human rights activists and individuals serving in the military.