More than 250 journalists in 36 countries teamed up for the latest project from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The Implant Files uncovers the dangers of medical devices that go unregulated in different countries. Like the Panama Papers and the Paradise Papers, which ICIJ also produced, the series includes a searchable database with 70,000 records from 11 countries, according to the ICIJ.
The Implant Files took two years to complete and involved 58 media organizations, including the Associated Press and NBC News in the United States. As part of the release of the story, ICIJ wrote about how it coordinated with all those journalists and organizations.
In 2016, ICIJ produced the Panama Papers, which brought together about 370 journalists in more than 80 countries. You can read a story about how they did it here.
Another project from the ICIJ, the Paradise Papers, came out in 2017. Here’s a Poynter look behind the scenes at that process.
The ICIJ says more reporting is coming. The AP reported on Monday that the series has already led the FDA to announce it will change how it approves medical devices.
“Certainly this is a global issue, it’s an international problem,” said Toronto Star reporter Robert Cribb in an ICIJ video, “and the more I’m learning about it, the tentacles are so vast.”
