- forbes.com/sites/matthewherper/2011/11/02/the-second-coming-of-bill-gates/
- forbes.com/sites/matthewherper/2011/11/10/what-bill-gates-says-about-drug-companies-2/
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Published online Nov. 2, 2011; cover of the Nov. 21, 2011 issue of Forbes.
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
A look at how Bill Gates’ involvement in transformed the way vaccines are given in the developing world — and why his understanding of economics and business allowed him to accomplish what public health advocates and drug companies wouldn’t.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
The details of the story were built from searches of relevant medical journals and medical meetings to find the clearest examples of the huge impact a vaccine can have on disease.
Explain types of human sources used.
Obviously, Bill & Melinda Gates. Bill Gates was interviewed twice for the story, once in person and once over the phone. Although not all were quoted, the heads of most major pharmaceutical companies were interviewed for the story, and a large number of research in the infectious disease field were interviewed as well.
Results:
The story generated more than 100 online comments and increased public awareness of the importance of vaccination.
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.
Some readers were angered to hear Gates described as having played such a pivotal role and distrust his motives. Some said that his top-down approach to getting vaccines to kids is bad for other parts of local health systems, which can suffer brain drain. See this post: http://gateskeepers.civiblog.org/blog/_archives/2011/11/7/4934825.html
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Find a character. This story started as a far-ranging landscape piece on vaccines. It was only after lots of looking that it emerged that Gates had become probably the most outspoken public advocate of vaccination. Also, we’re Forbes. So a Gates cover was a natural.