Brendan McCarthy

@bmccarthynews.bsky.social

Investigations Editor/National Desk, The New York Times. Former Boston Globe Spotlight Editor. Founding editor, Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. Ex New Orleans muckraker. Woonsocket, RI, raised. DM for Signal, etc.

@globespotlight.bsky.socialReposted by @bmccarthynews.bsky.social

What happens when a patient — who alleges harm by a doctor — files a complaint with the Mass. board of medicine? It's not always clear. Their handling of complaints is a secretive process. More and more, they're protective of doctors.

apps.bostonglobe.comMassachusetts board of medicine slow to discipline doctors accused of medical malpracticeThe Massachusetts medical board should be the ultimate protector of patients. But a Boston Globe Spotlight Team investigation found it is slow to act on physician lapses and regularly fails to protect...
@globespotlight.bsky.socialReposted by @bmccarthynews.bsky.social

What do you want to know about the financial collapse of Steward Health Care?

Reporters from the Globe Spotlight Team will be talking about our investigative series tomorrow in a Reddit AMA. Join us: trib.al/83ICnxq

The Boston Globe@bostonglobe.com

Have a question about Steward Health Care's downfall? A team of Globe reporters who have been investigating the saga over the last year are here to bring you answers. Join them on Reddit for a behind-the-scenes look at their reporting. Submit questions here: trib.al/83ICnxq

Square shaped box with a black background and white text. At the top of the square it says: ask us anything | reddit 10 a.m. Friday. There is a photo of the outside of outside of St. Anne’s Hospital, which was operated by Steward Health Care, in Fall River under that. The next row of text says: Reddit AMA on r/massachusetts. The text underneath that black says: A team of Boston Globe reporters will be answering questions about their year-long investigation into Steward Health Care.
@niemanstoryboard.orgReposted by @bmccarthynews.bsky.social

"When @kristinaudio.bsky.social first read the piece, she knew right away that it had the potential to be more than a print story." @globespotlight.bsky.social @bmccarthynews.bsky.social

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/05/01/s...

#podcasts

niemanstoryboard.orgInside 'Snitch City': How Boston Globe reporters turned a magazine story into a podcast - Nieman StoryboardThe Spotlight team looked for great characters and scenes to build their "audio-first" reporting project
@bmccarthynews.bsky.social

Major drug case dismissed amid allegations of New Bedford police informant misconduct.

Misconduct was first exposed by the Globe & closely follows the @globespotlight.bsky.social 'Snitch City' series. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/11/m...

bostonglobe.comProsecutors toss major trafficking case after New Bedford police accused of misconduct with informant - The Boston GlobeThe dismissal stems from a Globe Spotlight investigation that exposed the troubling ties between a detective and an informant.
@globespotlight.bsky.socialReposted by @bmccarthynews.bsky.social

Last week, we published Snitch City, a series and podcast investigating misconduct on New Bedford's police force and its history of misuse of confidential informants. The city's mayor pushed back. And he's asked the FBI to examine the findings.

bostonglobe.comNew Bedford mayor pushes back on Spotlight report on police abuses, seeks FBI review - The Boston GlobeMayor Jon Mitchell pushed back on the Spotlight Team report, saying it painted a picture of the department that was “materially incomplete” and relied on accounts of criminals and “others of dubious c...
@globespotlight.bsky.socialReposted by @bmccarthynews.bsky.social

Our new investigation begins with the story of a veteran cop in New Bedford, Mass. One night he stumbles onto an apparent robbery. The suspect? A colleague who claims he’s acting on a tip from an informant. And that’s just the start.

apps.bostonglobe.comSpotlight | Snitch City: Rogue New Bedford police officer exploited a secret systemThe Spotlight Team found a lack of scrutiny around confidential informants. And police misconduct has been allowed to fester.
@globespotlight.bsky.socialReposted by @bmccarthynews.bsky.social

Our new podcast begins on the docks of a Massachusetts city. It involves a rogue cop. A demand for drugs. A phrase he'd used again and again: “confidential informant.” This secretive system in policing has a dark underside. We found it in New Bedford.

apps.bostonglobe.comListen to Spotlight: Snitch City, a podcast about police confidential informants in New BedfordListen to Spotlight: Snitch City, a podcast about police confidential informants in New Bedford.