POPSUGAR: Can you describe your initial reaction to learning the news of Roe v. Wade's reversal on June 24?
Caitlin Cruz: I wasn't surprised because I had covered the leak of the draft opinion. There really wasn't time to have a lot of feelings because a lot of things changed almost immediately. The day of, after reading the opinion, I also covered the defense by the liberal justices, so I had to get that up right away. But after that, it's really been about covering how people are affected and talking to patients, both current and former, as well as doctors and providers and activists.
"One of the reasons I chose to do this work was because I knew how important bodily autonomy was to me." — Caitlin Cruz
PS: What has it been like reporting on abortion, an issue that so intimately impacts women?
CC: It's been super sad, but one of the reasons I chose to do this work was because I knew how important bodily autonomy was to me. I knew I wanted to report on that story. It's really heartbreaking, but it's also just time to keep going.
PS: What's your take on journalistic bias in situations like these? Do you think it's possible to remain unbiased while discussing abortion access as a woman?
CC: I don't think it's possible for anyone to remain unbiased because bodily autonomy and the legal issues in the Dobbs decision will affect everyone's lives regardless of sex or gender presentation. I think everyone has to come to terms with what the makeup of the Supreme Court is and what the decision could mean for everyone's future. There's no one who will not be impacted by the legal ramifications of this eventually if the Supreme Court's decision is upheld and built upon in future legal decisions and arguments.
PS: Is there an abortion-related story you're proudest of reporting on?
CC: I really enjoyed my colleague Gabrielle Bruney's feature on the history of abortion that we published on the 4th of July. It was just really smart and engaging. I'd really urge everyone to read it. As far as myself, I wrote an essay called "You Are Not Owed a Reason for Somebody's Abortion." It's about bias as a journalist, bothsideism, and all of the abortion patients I've talked to over the years and their experiences.
