- http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-11-12/national/35504060_1_health-apps-app-developers-itunes-store
- http://necir-bu.org/investigations/medical-apps/
Provide names of other journalists involved.
Sarah Kuranda, investigative intern, New England Center for Investigative Reporting Marion Halftermeyer, investigative intern, New England Center for Investigative Reporting John Ferguson, investigative intern, New England Center for Investigative Reporting
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Nov. 18, 2012
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
> The story investigated 1,500 health apps sold on the iTunes and Google Play stores and uncovered hundreds of apps that claimed to cure or help disease, despite no medical evidence that these treatments would work. It disclosed that one out of five apps claimed to treat or cure medical problems – exactly the sorts of apps that the FDA is arguing should be regulated.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
We examined 1,500 apps sold on iTunes and Google Play and set up a database, looking at price, claims, and many other factors. We did FOIA FTC documents from one of its cases.
Explain types of human sources used.
We interviewed dozens of medical doctors and researchers to figure out if some strange-sounding apps could have any beneficial impact on consumers. We talked to consumers, IT developers and others to determine if these apps had any medical validity.
Results:
The story was widely circulated around the Internet, appearing in general newspapers, online trade publications, and passed around by experts in health information technology. Also, the developer of a tinnitus app removed his app after we interviewed him — and before the story was published — because he was worried that he might not be complying with government regulation.
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 one has challenged the accuracy of the story.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Keep careful track of what you are examining in a database, and plan out what you want to put in a database as far in advance as possible. Try to check the database’s accuracy throughout the project or else you may end up with a jumbled mess, when it’s time to start writing.