Taking BMJ investigative journalism into a new era

British members of parliament fiddling with their expenses, the treatment of Windrush immigrants, and the dangers of the drug thalidomide to unborn children. All these scandals were revealed by investigative journalism, a tradition that The BMJ has followed in recent years to deliver its own scoops, including on pandemic drug Tamiflu; medical device regulation; the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; and infant formula milk.

Over the past 10 years, BMJ investigations have revealed research fraud and misconduct, led to changes in clinical practice guidelines, triggered parliamentary inquiries in Europe, led a major drug company to divest a consumer product, and led a prominent professional society to divest from …