Invisible Hand investigates how the public manages external costs from economic forces within a democracy.
The first part of the series focuses on fracking in Pennsylvania, a place that’s become a model for lawmakers across the country. It currently holds some of the strongest oil and gas regulations on record in the largest shale play of the United States.
From the start, this series has helped spark national attention to the issue. Its claim to fame came in its debut story on complaints which peaked the interest of The Daily Show, wherein they created, with help from Public Herald, their first-ever segment on fracking.
This Public Herald project also shares its reports with the #fileroom, which is now in BETA Version 1.0 ». The #fileroom project is now actively being used by communities to share information with state regulators and industry. Community members in Springfield Twp., PA have cited it as their most accurate place for information – more accurate than what was given to them by both regulators and industry.