Sent to four FDA officials yesterday:
March 10, 2005
Sandra L. Kweder, MD
Deputy Director, Office of New Drugs and
Director, Search Committee for Oncology Office Director
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Food and Drug Administration
Dear Dr. Kweder:
The Association of Health Care Journalists has reviewed your letter of February 25 to one of our members, Kirsten Boyd Goldberg, editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter, and respectfully asks that you rescind it. In the letter, you charge that Goldberg’s publication of “uncorroborated names of possible candidates” to be the new director of the Office of Oncology Drug Products “could undermine and delay the selection of a candidate for this position.”
You cite a clause in the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics, urging journalists to “recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention.” Clearly, you missed the point of the SPJ's admonition. Anyone vying for a federal position is, indeed, someone who seeks power, influence or attention. The director of the Office of Oncology Drug Products is a public position, financed by public funds, with public responsibilities. A journalist serves the public best by informing people before a selection is made and by examining potential candidates. Ms Goldberg did nothing wrong.
The AHCJ shares the concern expressed by Ms. Goldberg that your letter may have been an attempt to intimidate her or her publication. You wrote to Ms. Goldberg that “mutual trust and respect must be maintained in order to build a productive relationship for the future.” Such attempted interference with a legitimate journalistic endeavor is no way to build such trust and respect.
You can end the perceptions of intimidation and mistrust by rescinding your letter. I, or any member of the AHCJ board, would be happy to discuss this with you.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Gary Schwitzer
Association of Health Care Journalists advocacy committee and
Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Cc: Janet Woodcock, MD
Steven Galson, MD, Acting Director, CDER
John Jenkins, MD, Director, OND