Searchlight New Mexico is bringing critical attention to a state grappling with severe healthcare challenges. With multiple counties designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas, thousands of families lack reliable access to medical care. Maternity wards have closed, rural hospitals are fighting to stay open, and the state’s population faces daunting obstacles to receiving essential care.
The Mission
Searchlight New Mexico, a nonprofit investigative news organization, has built its reputation on highlighting the challenges facing New Mexicans, including poverty, education gaps, and healthcare inequities. Through its reporting, Searchlight ensures that marginalized voices are heard and that the stories of those most affected by systemic issues reach the desks of policymakers and advocates. “Our goal is to create work that prompts serious policy discussions across the state of New Mexico and inspires tangible and positive change” said Executive Editor Alex Heard.
A Focus on Maternal Health and Healthcare Access
Supported by a three-year commitment from Con Alma Health Foundation, one of the topics Searchlight has zeroed in on is the healthcare crisis. Access is a persistent challenge in New Mexico, a state where 32 out of 33 counties are designated Health Professional Shortage Areas. With the closure of maternity wards in multiple hospitals and ongoing barriers to care for rural and immigrant populations, the need for solutions has never been more urgent. Searchlight is tackling these issues head-on, using investigative journalism to inspire action and advocate for systemic change. “When we commit our time and resources to a major project, it is with the expectation that our work will make a difference in the lives of New Mexicans,” said Heard.
Recent reports have covered issues such as:
- The rising cost of malpractice insurance: This issue threatens the existence of small rural hospitals, which have trouble finding and affording the insurance they must have to operate. As a result of the awareness raised, these issues are being addressed with proposed new bills in the 2025 session of the New Mexico state legislature.
- Rural hospital closures: The closure of maternity wards in rural hospitals has left pregnant women traveling long distances or even crossing state lines for care.
- Healthcare staffing shortages: With New Mexico needing nearly 10,000 additional healthcare providers to meet national standards, Searchlight has investigated the impact on small hospitals and their ability to retain staff.
These stories are more than just articles—they’re lifelines for communities whose voices are often ignored. They highlight the systemic gaps that leave families vulnerable, while providing advocates and policymakers with the tools to push for solutions.
In addition to enabling provoking storytelling, the grant has helped Searchlight establish partnerships with local and national organizations such as The Navajo Times, ProPublica, and The Guardian, ensuring that New Mexico’s healthcare challenges gain visibility far beyond the state’s borders.
“Searchlight New Mexico plays a vital role in uncovering the stories that matter most to our communities,” said Linda Candelaria, executive director of Con Alma Health Foundation. “Their commitment to amplifying the voices of New Mexicans—particularly those in rural and underserved areas—ensures that the challenges and inequities faced by our state are not ignored. By shining a light on these issues, Searchlight not only informs but inspires action, driving meaningful change that helps improve health and equity for all.”
Making a Difference Through Investigative Journalism
The impact of Searchlight’s reporting is already evident. Stories such as those covering PFAS contamination in low-income neighborhoods near Santa Fe and the erosion of midwifery care across the state have sparked community discussions and policy debates. Notable outcomes include:
- Broader advocacy efforts: Advocates for immigration rights, maternal health, and rural healthcare have utilized Searchlight’s stories to push for policy changes.
- Statewide recognition: Searchlight writers have been featured on prominent radio and TV programs, bringing these issues to the forefront of public discourse.
- Legislative influence: Reporting has contributed to increased funding requests for maternal and child health initiatives in the New Mexico state budget.
One immediate outcome was the invitation for Searchlight to join the Carter Center’s Mental Health Parity Reporting Collaborative, enabling the organization to produce stories addressing mental health needs across New Mexico in 2025.
At the heart of Searchlight’s work is its dedication to community engagement. The organization conducts interviews and listening events to ensure that its stories reflect the lived experiences of those directly affected by healthcare disparities. In 2023 alone, Searchlight interviewed more than 1,500 individuals, amplifying voices that are often overlooked.
They are also perhaps the only publication in America to translate full-length investigative stories into Diné; with the audio shared with Navajo radio stations, to make the stories widely accessible. A story on the risk of deportation facing families with high health needs children was translated into Spanish and shared with several Spanish speaking outlets as an example.
“We ensure that the people who are most affected by these issues have a say in how their stories are told,” Heard said. “Their insights and experiences guide our reporting and shape the narratives we share.”
Searchlight New Mexico: The Future
As Searchlight looks ahead, the organization remains committed to using investigative journalism to promote health equity. With ongoing support from Con Alma Health Foundation and other partners, Searchlight plans to:
- Host a series of statewide listening events in 2025 to further engage communities.
- Publish additional in-depth stories on malpractice insurance, addiction treatment, and other critical health issues.
- Expand collaborations with media partners to reach a broader audience and drive systemic change.
“Our goal is to keep shining a light on the issues that matter most,” Executive Editor Tamara Bates concluded. “By telling these stories, we hope to inspire action and ensure that every New Mexican has access to the healthcare they deserve.”
Through its investigative journalism, Searchlight New Mexico is addressing one of New Mexico’s most pressing issues: access to healthcare. With the support of the Con Alma Health Foundation, the organization is uncovering systemic challenges, elevating marginalized voices, and driving policy changes to improve healthcare in the state.
As one community advocate put it: “Searchlight’s stories aren’t just journalism—they’re a catalyst for change.”
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Con Alma Health Foundation’s support has helped in amplifying Searchlight’s work. The partnership funds a dedicated health reporter, travel, photography, editing, and community events that elevate the voices of New Mexicans most affected by healthcare inequities.
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