Hi Reader,
We deserve institutions that act with honesty, integrity and transparency. But when they fall short, the American tradition of independent journalism is a critical ballast to a functioning democracy, holding the powerful accountable and defending the public’s right to know. Investigative reporters do the work most of us cannot — digging deep, asking tough questions and demanding accountability when things go wrong.
Today, this essential work is under threat. As corporate interests dominate some of the media landscape and many newsrooms are shrinking, fewer reporters are left to scrutinize the halls of power. But here at ProPublica, we’re growing, pressing on and digging deeper, and we won’t stop. At the heart of our mission is a steadfast faith in the power of investigative reporting to spur change and right wrongs.
And it does. Just look at our reporting on Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.
Our reporters noticed that in just one year, the drug manufacturer had seven recalls for drugs that didn’t dissolve properly — with potentially deadly consequences for some U.S. patients. So we started digging. Our first story traced the faulty pills to a single factory in central India that hadn’t been inspected by the Food and Drug Administration since before the pandemic.
Two months after our story was published, the FDA finally returned — the agency’s first inspection in five years — and discovered problems with cleaning and testing that they said could affect medicines that were shipped to American consumers. Then, in April, Glenmark recalled two dozen more generics — medicines for epilepsy, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and high blood pressure — after the FDA determined that the factory failed to comply with U.S. manufacturing standards and that the faulty drugs could harm people. Glenmark says it is working with the FDA to ensure compliance with manufacturing operations and quality systems.
Impact has been at the core of ProPublica’s mission since we launched in 2008, and our newsroom’s track record of holding power to account is unmatched. You can see it all in our impact reports, published three times a year. Our work has proven time and again that people and policymakers, when confronted with difficult truths, will be inspired to push for change.
Our in-depth reporting shines a light on the stories that matter most, but we can’t do it alone because finding the truth is expensive. Every breakthrough investigation is powered by readers like you. Your support can help uncover the facts. Make a donation of any amount to drive our work forward.
Thanks so much,
Tova Genesen
Proud ProPublican
