The NewsHour, an hour-long public affairs program on PBS, devoted several segments this week to the struggles of Americans to support their families in low-wage jobs. Hari Sreenivasan reported Monday about the challenges faced a woman in New York who works at a fast-food job for $8 an hour. His report begins with Shenita Simon’s $270 weekly take-home pay, then follows her, showing where the money goes. He also details the various public-assistance programs that Simon and her family participate in. It’s a well-told story that puts a human face on poverty.

The PBS website also includes a useful interactive guide that contrasts the minimum wage with a living wage. How could any of these techniques be applied to a poverty story in Latah County?