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May 12, 2008

Slate questions drug companies' influence on pubradio's Infinite Mind

Slate has stirred up a new controversy over improper editorial influence in pubradio programming: a recent edition of The Infinite Mind is under fire for failing to reveal that four mental health experts contributing to "Prozac Nation: Revisited" have financial ties to drug companies that manufacture anti-depressants. The recent episode, in which host Fred Goodwin and all three interviewed guests agreed that the media overplays the link between violent behavior and antidepressants, is portrayed as an example of medical reporting that is "in a class by itself for concealing bias," according to Slate. Producer Bill Lichtenstein responds here and additional commentary, including a response from Slate's writers, is here.