Media

April 13, 2021

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.

March 29, 2021

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.

March 25, 2021

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 […]

March 19, 2021

*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.”

March 17, 2021

The making of a “partnership proposal” and why “ad-free” rarely means what’s implied

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.

March 12, 2021

COLLARGATE Part 3: News outlet responds after veterinarians debunk Seresto story, Gannett still mum

TCR received a response from The Midwest Center late Friday afternoon, which we are publishing in full with our response.

March 10, 2021

Gannett, USA Today editors still mum on disputed Seresto report as writer doubles down

It’s been one week since the Internet was set ablaze by a story about Seresto flea and tick collars, which we dubbed COLLARGATE because of criticism from veterinarians and what we saw as holes in the reporting and editing process. Last Tuesday, March 2, the editors at America’s largest newspaper chain, Gannett, hit “Publish” on […]

January 19, 2021

Pet food company responsible for 70+ dog deaths hires veterinarian with ties to team helping FDA investigate it

Who better for a company to hire for outreach to grief-stricken owners who feel betrayed than a respected veterinarian with ties to the academics helping to investigate the company?

October 19, 2020

NBC News Publishes High Traffic Pet Food Puffery

NBC News posted an article to its website about premium dog food upstarts that soon became one of the most viewed articles about dogs on the Internet that day and through the weekend. The story, which discloses at the outset that NBC receives a fee each time any person clicks on any of the products mentioned in the story, offers no evaluations from veterinarians…..

July 14, 2020

VIN News Refuses To Issue Correction

TCR is requesting a correction or clarification in a VIN News story by reporter Edie Lau. Lau has not yet made any changes to her story, nor has she responded to TCR’s most recent e-mail. TCR is publishing the exchange with Lau in full: