David Willman
Encyclopedia
David Willman is a Pulitzer Prize
winning investigative journalist.
with a B.A. in Journalism in 1978.
His work has prompted major public reforms, including a ban in 2005 of drug company payments to government scientists at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Willman’s investigative reports in the Los Angeles Times also led to the March 2000 safety withdrawal of Rezulin, a Type 2 Diabetes drug that grossed more than $2 billion in sales.
Earlier in his career, Willman covered local, state and national politics, including presidential campaigns in 1980, 1984 and 1988.
Willman has worked from Washington D.C. and throughout California. His investigative reports in the 1990s exposed defective construction within tunnels of the Los Angeles subway and at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
, prompting structural overhauls. All repairs were made at the expense of the contractors responsible for the defective work.
In June, 2011 Willman's book The Mirage Man: Bruce Ivins, the Anthrax Attacks, and America's Rush to War (Bantam Books
) was released. It concerns the anthrax attacks in the US, and the subsequent media coverage and FBI investigation.
, the organization cited "his pioneering expose of seven unsafe prescription drugs that had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and an analysis of the policy reforms that had reduced the agency’s effectiveness."
In 2004, Willman won the Worth Bingham Prize, awarded for "investigative reporting of stories of national significance where the public interest is ill-served." Willman had brought to light drug company payments—including consulting fees and awards of stock and stock options—to senior scientists at the National Institutes of Health
. When he announced a ban of such future payments, NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., credited Willman’s reports in the Los Angeles Times.
Other honors he has won include the George Polk Award (1997) and the medal award of Investigative Reporters and Editors
(1997, 1999). Willman was the first recipient of Harvard University
’s David Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism (2005).
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning investigative journalist.
Life
He graduated from San Jose State UniversitySan José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
with a B.A. in Journalism in 1978.
His work has prompted major public reforms, including a ban in 2005 of drug company payments to government scientists at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Willman’s investigative reports in the Los Angeles Times also led to the March 2000 safety withdrawal of Rezulin, a Type 2 Diabetes drug that grossed more than $2 billion in sales.
Earlier in his career, Willman covered local, state and national politics, including presidential campaigns in 1980, 1984 and 1988.
Willman has worked from Washington D.C. and throughout California. His investigative reports in the 1990s exposed defective construction within tunnels of the Los Angeles subway and at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
, prompting structural overhauls. All repairs were made at the expense of the contractors responsible for the defective work.
In June, 2011 Willman's book The Mirage Man: Bruce Ivins, the Anthrax Attacks, and America's Rush to War (Bantam Books
Bantam Books
Bantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by Random House, the German media corporation subsidiary of Bertelsmann; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. Kramer, and Ian and Betty Ballantine...
) was released. It concerns the anthrax attacks in the US, and the subsequent media coverage and FBI investigation.
Awards
In awarding Willman the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Investigative ReportingPulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting
The Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting has been awarded since 1953, under one name or another, for a distinguished example of investigative reporting by an individual or team, presented as a single article or series in print journalism...
, the organization cited "his pioneering expose of seven unsafe prescription drugs that had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and an analysis of the policy reforms that had reduced the agency’s effectiveness."
In 2004, Willman won the Worth Bingham Prize, awarded for "investigative reporting of stories of national significance where the public interest is ill-served." Willman had brought to light drug company payments—including consulting fees and awards of stock and stock options—to senior scientists at the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
. When he announced a ban of such future payments, NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., credited Willman’s reports in the Los Angeles Times.
Other honors he has won include the George Polk Award (1997) and the medal award of Investigative Reporters and Editors
Investigative Reporters and Editors
Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that focuses on the quality of investigative reporting. Formed in 1975, it presents the IRE Awards and holds conferences and training classes for journalists. Its headquarters is in Columbia, Missouri, at the University of...
(1997, 1999). Willman was the first recipient of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
’s David Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism (2005).