Major investigations

We investigate the people in power, public contracts, pardons, public-private relations and many other relevant topics, comprehensively and with data.

🔎 Filter by area

Justice

Deaths in police custody

We analyse the cases of people who have died in police operations and in spaces managed by agents of the security forces, in Spain and in the EU.

Health

payments to doctors

We expose the payments made by pharmaceutical companies to doctors in Spain, from fees for services to financing conferences and training. We break down the figures, patterns and lack of transparency in these payments, as well as their influence on medical practice. Awards: Concha García Campoy Award in Science Journalism to Ángela Bernardo Finalist - Inter American Press Association Awards for Excellence in Journalism 2018

Justice

citizenship

Obtaining the nationality of a country is a long, drawn-out, costly and obstacle-laden process for hundreds of thousands of people every year across Europe. We reveal the numerous hurdles they encounter along the way.

Environment

Spain in flames

A series that reveals the reality of forest fires in Spain. By analysing millions of data, we highlight the main causes, recurring patterns and consequences, revealing how fire impacts both the land and forest management policies.

Health

vaccines

We analyse the purchase, distribution and administration of vaccines, revealing immunisation differences between regions and variations in prices, so that you can learn how such disparities affect equity of access. Awards: Second Albert Jovell Award for the Best Journalistic Work in the Healthcare Field 2018

Justice

pretrial detention

How many people are held in pretrial detention in Spain? How about across Europe? What is the psychological impact? What happens if you are acquitted after the trial? We analyse the use of pretrial detention, revealing its consequences and the implications for those affected.

Health

assisted reproduction

Our investigation delves into the barriers to access assisted reproduction via both public and private healthcare in Spain and Europe, as well as the booming business surrounding these subsidies and the implications for donors. Awards: II Vicente Verdú Prize for Journalism and Innovation 2022 Europe’s Best Science Journalist Award 2022 for Ángela Bernardo, for her investigation into mental and reproductive health Observable Community Recognition Award 2021 for Carmen Torrecillas, for the visual and web development of this series

Justice

Pardonometer

A series on the pardons granted in Spain since 1996. Who has benefited, for which crimes, and how pardons have evolved over time.

Health

mental health

Since 2020 we have been focusing on mental healthcare, in particular on the real problems of access to the public system, the use of models that fail to respect rights, and the over-medicating of the population. Awards received for this investigation series: Runner-up in the Miradas Award 2022 Europe’s Best Science Journalist Award 2022 for Ángela Bernardo, for her investigation into mental and reproductive health Observable Community Recognition Award 2021 for Carmen Torrecillas, for the visual and web development of this series

Procurement

emergency contracts

Investigation into the procedures for awarding public contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic and how emergency measures were used—with scant monitoring or transparency—to award thousands of contracts that weren’t always related to healthcare. This series was published in El País newspaper, and received the following awards:: Sigma Award 2022, the most prestigious international award in data journalism API Data Journalism Award 2022, from the Association of Investigative Journalists Observable Community Recognition Award for Carmen Torrecillas, for the visual and web development of this series

Procurement

Minor contracts

An investigation into minor public sector contracts to disclose splitting, suspicious contracts and other illegal practices.

Health

medicine prices

We investigate opacity in the pricing and financing of medicines, uncovering confidential agreements between governments and pharmaceutical companies, and how these practices affect the equity of access to treatments and the sustainability of the healthcare system.

Transparency

Algorithms

We investigate and monitor the apps used by public authorities. From the BOSCO case—the app that decides who is entitled to the electricity discount rate, to the most opaque of ‘black boxes’.

Health

contraceptives

We investigate barriers to accessing contraceptive methods, analysing everything from elevated prices and the lack of subsidies to the geographical imbalance in their availability. Awards: Best Data Journalism Project at the Data Science Awards Spain 2018

Procurement

public works

An investigation into public procurement in Spain: who are the main companies involved and how does it work?