ProPublica is launching a new weekly podcast exploring how major investigations uncover abuses of power across healthcare, business and government.
Paper Trail will launch on 14 May with episodes released every Thursday in partnership with PRX. The series is hosted by investigative journalist Jessica Lussenhop and follows reporters behind ProPublica investigations as they explain how stories are uncovered and why they matter.
The first episode examines how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed foreign factories to continue shipping generic drugs to the United States despite previous bans linked to contamination, poor lab conditions and falsified records.
Future episodes will follow reporters investigating wrongdoing through documents, recordings, whistleblower accounts and other evidence. The series will cover subjects including criminal justice, technology, the environment and healthcare.
Jessica said: “My greatest hope for the show is that by meeting our reporters and hearing from our sources, listeners will learn not just how we uncover secrets but why what we reveal matters to their day to day lives.”
Executive Producer Katherine Wells said listeners would hear stories from sources before following the impact investigations can have on laws, political leaders and individuals affected by wrongdoing.
Jason Saldanha, Chief Operating Officer of PRX, said the partnership reflected shared public media values around informing audiences about the world around them.
Paper Trail will be available on platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Overcast and NPR One.
