MEDIA
Fact-checking 101 and “show, not tell”
Dear Readers, It’s been brought to my attention that the publisher of the Veterinary Information Network’s News Service (VIN News), Paul Pion, has asked that his reporters check reporting we did months ago. Specifically, we confirmed with both the California and New York licensing boards that Dodds did not obtain a license to practice veterinary […]
Petplan is now ‘Fetch by The Dodo’–which means policy holders can now complain to Ken Lerer, too
There is at least one piece of good news for Petplan (or ‘Fetch by The Dodo’) policy holders, which is that you now have a prominent New York media executive to rope in when you file complaints to departments of insurance: Ken Lerer
USA Today “updates” Seresto story without admitting corrections, even removing entire “Why this story matters” sidebar
USA Today editor Emily Le Coz reached out to Elanco this morning to inform the company that a September 24 story about Seresto flea and tick collars that Elanco had been disputing emphatically, and for which it began demanding corrections immediately after the story was published, has now been “updated” two weeks later, though without […]
Petplan spox, CEO remain mum on rebrand plans with The Dodo touted one year ago
Internet sensation The Dodo and pet insurance provider Petplan appear to have dissolved plans to build a partnership. Both parties have refused repeated requests to comment since mid-September, and the Petplan camp declined to comment on the deal throughout the summer, too. Last October, the announcement was all but shouted from the rooftops: “Petplan, North […]
Seresto parent company Elanco demands corrections, retraction after new USA Today story alleges cover-up
A spokesperson for Elanco, the parent company and maker of the popular Seresto flea and tick collars, told TCR yesterday that the company categorically disputes the substance of a story published on Friday by USA Today alleging that it “failed to report an additional 11,000 safety-related incidents to the federal government since 2020.” In essence, […]
Newest Seresto suit also veterinarian-free zone, but USA Today starts to talk to vets and conduct requisite reporting
A new Seresto suit is afoot.
This time, the plaintiff is Florida resident John Czerniak, although he, too, is seeking the company (“and all others similarly situated”) of additional plaintiffs. His lawyers are Knoxville, Tennessee-based Greg Coleman Law PC, according to the complaint – which contains 13 consecutive allegations and zero evidence apart from the embattled Hettinger story.
COLLARGATE EXPLODES: Seresto story errors amplify
The first class-action lawsuit prompted by USA Today’s veterinarian-disputed ‘Seresto’ story was filed last Monday against Elanco Animal Health Inc. (NYSE: ELAN). The suit seems to be as evidence-free as the USA Today story– the source upon which the suit relies.
First Seresto class action filed
The first class-action lawsuit to cite the dubious and fervently discredited Seresto story published earlier this month was filed against Elanco Animal Health Inc., the manufacturer of Seresto flea and tick collars, on Monday. The Seresto story, published by USA Today on March 2, alleges that Seresto collars are linked to almost 1700 dog and […]
*Update: Elanco says “Legal action is under evaluation.” Collargate Part IV: Elanco mum on whether company is seeking legal redress, corrections to stories alleging Seresto collars are killers
*Update* Speaking by phone late Friday afternoon, Elanco spokeswoman Colleen Dekker told TCR that Elanco has a longstanding policy of not discussing “legal matters externally.” However, she added on the record, “legal action is under evaluation.”
Deconstructing “ad-free”
Here is a “partnership proposal” someone sent TCR this morning. We are publishing the email in full with redactions to protect the identity of the sender because the intent here is not to humiliate someone trying to make a living.
We hope you take the time to read this “Partnership Proposal” and to appreciate the fact that the vast majority of online editorial content is produced according to exactly the same model as what this email is proposing.
