Welfare advocate Jack Frech has taken reporters on "poverty tours" of Athens County, Ohio, for years. But has media attention made any difference in the lives of the Appalachian poor? 

The notion that poverty stems from a lack of will power and a poor work ethic is as old as America. Why that needs to be dispelled. 

Confronting the myth that America is a land of equal opportunity and upward mobility for all. 

Government assistance in the United States helps millions out of poverty, but often the most needy fall through the cracks. 

When reporting on poverty, the media fall into familiar traps. How to steer clear of stereotypes and seek insight.