Impact in 2010 (from our annual report)

In 2010 alone,

• The New Orleans Police Department is now subject to federal monitoring, with three officers convicted and three others still awaiting trial in cases where our reporting led the way;
• After more than two years of relentless prodding by our reporter, the federal government released, and ProPublica published in accessible database form, comparative data on the quality of dialysis facilities across the country, empowering 400,000 dialysis patients and their families, and unleashing market pressure for improved care;
• We spotlighted flaws and broken promises in the BP claims process. At first frustrating and opaque for residents who had lost business or even their livelihoods, the process was streamlined and made more efficient and responsive.  Time magazine wrote, “score one for ProPublica for forcing BP’s hand”;
• Our national coverage of the damage wrought to homes by defective Chinese drywall spurred remedial action by Habitat for Humanity in Louisiana and caused home improvement chain Lowe’s to dramatically increase the money it offered to customers harmed by their use of drywall purchased in their stores;
• Our debate-shaping coverage of the threat to the nation’s water supplies from unregulated drilling for natural gas continued—now topping 100 stories over 30 months—and important safety limits were placed on drilling for gas in New York state;
• A federal database of dangerous or incompetent caregivers was overhauled, a warning posted about its limitations and the team overseeing it replaced;
• A new law was enacted in Illinois tightening standards of informed consent in the administration of psychotropic drugs in nursing homes; and
• The Food and Drug Administration restricted the use of an MRI drug manufactured by General Electric that has been implicated in harming patients with kidney disease.