Hi Reader,

The rigorous, impact-driven investigative journalism being published from our newsroom every day is time consuming and expensive. When we say expensive, what does that mean? Of course, there’s salaries, office space and equipment. Journalists sometimes need to travel to interview sources or inspect public records in person. We develop systems for tracking and analyzing troves of documents, and we make lots of searchable databases available to the public.  

And, as we’ve also learned, exposing powerful entities often comes with powerful pushback. 

ProPublica and its journalists have been sued at least six times for libel and defamation since our start 16 years ago. We have not lost or paid money to plaintiffs in any of them. Our journalism has stood up to scrutiny. And we are willing to risk costly lawsuits to bring the truth to light.  

Just this year, ProPublica prevailed in a six-year legal battle against us and our now-Managing Editor Charles Ornstein. The story in question was published in 2018, about a pioneering surgeon, Dr. O.H. “Bud” Frazier, who contributed to many breakthroughs in his quest to develop a permanent mechanical replacement for the human heart, but who also was accused of violating federal research rules and skirting ethical guidelines. Frazier sued ProPublica and Ornstein, as well as the story’s co-publisher and co-author, for libel in 2018, and in April of this year an appeals court ordered the case dismissed. The Texas appeals court ruled that our investigation provided a “fair, true, and impartial account” of accusations against him. Ornstein wrote about his unique vantage point as a defendant who prevailed in a lengthy libel case and how the experience impacted the way he thinks about court records in investigative journalism. 

Defending these cases required time and money, and ProPublica’s experience isn’t unique. We are prepared and we will fight for the truth, but it’s very expensive. We’re able to stand up to any and all kinds of scrutiny for as long as it takes thanks to the support of our readers standing with us. Donate today and help us continue to hold power to account, no matter the pushback.

Thanks so much, 

Jill Shepherd

Proud ProPublican