The Washington Monthly's Monthly Journalism Award.

WALT BOGDANICH, BARRY MEIER, MARY WILLIAMS WALSH

"Medicine's Middlemen: Spending Money, Strings Attached," & "Medicine's Middlemen: One Group's Conflicts" The New York Times, March 4 & 26, 2002

This series of investigative articles examines the seamy world of purchasing groups that buy medical products for hospitals, and the suspiciously close ties between these groups and certain pharmaceutical companies. "Spending Money, Strings Attached" outlines how these hand-in-glove relationships often result in other, better, non-affiliated products being excluded from hospital use. "One Group's Conflicts" looks at the incestuous relationship between F.D.A. violation-prone American Pharmaceuticals and buying group Premier Inc. Taken together or separately, these well-written, solidly reported articles are textbook examples of journalism in the public interest.

THE MONTHLY JOURNALISM AWARD is presented each month to one or more newspaper, magazine, radio, or television stories (or series of stories) that demonstrate a commitment to the public interest. We are particularly interested in reporting that explains the successes and failures of government agencies at all levels and of other institutions such as the media, corporations, unions, and foundations that contribute to the existence or solution of public problems. Please send nominations (including a copy of the article or broadcast text) to The Washington Monthly Journalism Award, 733 15th Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC20005. Or e-mail us at [e-mail]. Nominations for stories run in April 2002 are due May 5, 2002.