Investigative Reporters & Editors has named ProPublica's "The Prescribers" series the winner of its 2013 FOI Award, which recognizes an organization whose significant actions further open records or open government. The FOI Award is one of three special medals, the highest honor IRE bestows for outstanding watchdog journalism.
"ProPublica accomplished many feats at once in 'The Prescribers,' detailing a danger to the nation's health and billions in wasted federal dollars, while securing complete public access to Medicare prescription data for the first time," the judges write. "...Some officials opposed disclosing the identities of doctors and providers, but the information was ultimately released, scoring a precedent for all future requests."
See the full list of winners here. Congratulations to all involved.