1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
Title of the story is "Behind the ‘phantom recall' of Motrin." The byline on the story is Parija Kavilanz and is representative of her health care beat as a consumer and public health story.
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
The story was published on June 2, 2010, on CNNMoney.com. The story also appeared on CNN.com on June 2, 2010.
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Less than a month after Johnson & Johnson's McNeil unit recalled more than 50 children's versions of these non-prescription Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl and other drugs on April 30, 2010 for serious quality and safety concerns, the company remained tightlipped about the specific problems with those drugs, manufacturing problems at the plant that made those recalled drugs and consumers complaints received about the recalled drugs. CNNMoney.com was the first to report the extent of the manufacturing problems at the McNeil's plant in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania where the recalled drugs were made. CNNMoney.com was the first to report that the recalled children's possibly contained small metal parts and that the Food and Drug Administration had received at least 775 consumer complaints about McNeil's recalled drugs. CNNMoney.com was also among the first to report how McNeil may have attempted a secret recall of some Motrin products in 2009 buy hiring a contractor to clandestinely remove the drugs from store shelves without fully disclosing its actions to the FDA.
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
The story used documents provided by the FDA and Congressional Committee on Oversight and Government reform, which has been investigating McNeil's non-prescription drug recalls.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
Confidential sources at the FDA. Confidential sources with Committee on Oversight and Government Reform committee investigating Johnson & Johnson's drug recalls and drug manufacturing problems. David Rosen, former FDA official and an expert on FDA regulations.
6. Results (if any).
The story received hundred of responses from CNNMoney.com and CNN readers and viewers. Many of those responses are archived on CNNMoney.com, below the story. Parija Kavilanz was the first to dig into the troubling conditions at Johnson & Johnson's drug production facilities. Her reporting uncovered "shocking conditions" at the company's McNeil plant in Pennsylvania. Kavilanz was tenacious in her reporting when other news outlets were not. Her reporting unearthed a lax safety culture at the Johnson & Johnson unit that produced some of America's most popular drugs, such as Tylenol. One of the most shocking discoveries was the risks that were being posed by contaminated Children's Tylenol. Kavilanz was tipped off to even more troubling information: The company had conducted a "phantom recall" of some drugs by removing drugs from store shelves without correctly disclosing their actions to the FDA. This drew the attention of lawmakers at the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform who along with the FDA initiated an investigation into the matter, culminating with Jonson & Johnson CEO William Weldon's testimony admitting that the company misled regulators. Kavilanz's reporting and perseverance exposed questionable practices and helped readers comprehend the true risks. Her work was closely scrutinized by the industry, regulators and lawmakers. New legislation was introduced to change that. Kavilanz also faced close scrutiny from the industry and others who rallied to defend Johnson & Johnson. Ultimately it was her reporting that not only brought the problems to light but that set the wheels in motion to try and remedy them.
7. Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Don't expect companies to be forthcoming with information, especially when reporters are covering some "negative" news about their business. Instead, be creative and look for other ways to obtain more information. FOIs are a great tool available to any member of the public. A simple Google search often surfaces former company employees, who after being properly vetted, can become invaluable resources to reporters.