Patents, Profits, and Patients: Lessons from Debating Big Pharma at Oxford

Recently, Gerald Posner delivered a series of lectures at Peterson Academy titled Journalism 101. If you’re a writer or journalist, his course—drawing on his extensive experience. I found it invaluable. He delves into how to investigate stories, pull data directly from primary sources, and craft headlines that actually mean something.

Gerald Posner is an American investigative journalist, author, and non-practicing attorney. Posner has authored many bestsellers focusing on conspiracies, history, and crime.

Some of his notable works:

• Case Closed (1993): Argues Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in JFK’s assassination (Pulitzer finalist, NYT bestseller).

• Killing the Dream (1998): Concludes James Earl Ray acted alone in MLK’s assassination.

• Why America Slept (2003): Examines pre-9/11 intelligence failures.

• God’s Bankers (2015): History of Vatican finances (NYT bestseller).

• PHARMA (2020): Critique of the pharmaceutical industry and opioid crisis.

Big Pharma Profits

In one of his lectures, he makes a co…