Charles Piller

I'm working in an occupation where the articles that I write question and sometimes threaten the careers of people, in this particular case associated with my book, Doctored, scientists who have apparently engaged in misconduct and misrepresentation of important studies. And when exposed, that's a very, very difficult thing for them. But it should be, honestly. If people are engaging in

I'm working in an occupation where the articles that I write question and sometimes threaten the careers of people, in this particular case associated with my book, Doctored, scientists who have apparently engaged in misconduct and misrepresentation of important studies. And when exposed, that's a very, very difficult thing for them. But it should be, honestly. If people are engaging in

in misconduct or engaging in activities that appear to be misconduct that needs to be explored. The public needs to know because it can be very harmful to the pursuit of scientific knowledge and also eventually drug development. So we've all got a stake in it. And for me, The threats and the pushback and the kind of public claims about disputes about my work, that comes with the territory.

in misconduct or engaging in activities that appear to be misconduct that needs to be explored. The public needs to know because it can be very harmful to the pursuit of scientific knowledge and also eventually drug development. So we've all got a stake in it. And for me, The threats and the pushback and the kind of public claims about disputes about my work, that comes with the territory.

You've got to be prepared to take it. You've got to have a thick skin, and you've got to be prepared to have good lawyers behind you sometimes because anybody can sue for anything, even frivolously, and you just have to be ready for whatever comes.

You've got to be prepared to take it. You've got to have a thick skin, and you've got to be prepared to have good lawyers behind you sometimes because anybody can sue for anything, even frivolously, and you just have to be ready for whatever comes.

Yeah. Well, I'm fortunate that I'm not suffering from a lack of income, but I'm not getting rich either. You know, very few reporters really do get that rich. But yes, for me. Look, I mean, it may sound a little bit corny, but I'm really deeply committed to doing something beneficial with my work.

Yeah. Well, I'm fortunate that I'm not suffering from a lack of income, but I'm not getting rich either. You know, very few reporters really do get that rich. But yes, for me. Look, I mean, it may sound a little bit corny, but I'm really deeply committed to doing something beneficial with my work.

That's always been my motivation back from, as I mentioned, inspiration as a very young person associated with the Watergate scandal. What I want to do is expose things that can illuminate issues in a way that are helpful to the public, that can advance these causes in a way that might put things a little bit better on track than they were before. Look, you have to be realistic.

That's always been my motivation back from, as I mentioned, inspiration as a very young person associated with the Watergate scandal. What I want to do is expose things that can illuminate issues in a way that are helpful to the public, that can advance these causes in a way that might put things a little bit better on track than they were before. Look, you have to be realistic.

Being one person, no matter how influential some of my work might be, and fortunately, at times, it is influential. I think the book, for example, Doctored, has turned a lot of heads, and that's great. But you have to understand that the world's complicated. My goal really is to be one of the many people who's trying to do something beneficial in the world.

Being one person, no matter how influential some of my work might be, and fortunately, at times, it is influential. I think the book, for example, Doctored, has turned a lot of heads, and that's great. But you have to understand that the world's complicated. My goal really is to be one of the many people who's trying to do something beneficial in the world.

And because I feel deeply about it, it also means that I really enjoy what I'm doing. I really enjoy digging. I really enjoy getting to the bottom of puzzles. And that's an integral part of being an investigative journalist, is figuring out how mysteries end, what the steps are to learn what the root causes of problems are, and how someone might try to correct them.

And because I feel deeply about it, it also means that I really enjoy what I'm doing. I really enjoy digging. I really enjoy getting to the bottom of puzzles. And that's an integral part of being an investigative journalist, is figuring out how mysteries end, what the steps are to learn what the root causes of problems are, and how someone might try to correct them.

Yeah, honestly, I've had that a number of times. And it's not with every story because sometimes in this business, you drill a lot of holes and some of them are dry holes. But when you hit a gusher, you know this is something potentially important and interesting.

Yeah, honestly, I've had that a number of times. And it's not with every story because sometimes in this business, you drill a lot of holes and some of them are dry holes. But when you hit a gusher, you know this is something potentially important and interesting.

And that's really critical to remember because it doesn't do much good to do a lot of digging and find out information that is beneficial to the public if you can't make it something the public really is interested in and wants to learn about. And so, you know, what I look for in the, as you say, the sort of most exciting moment is when I have

And that's really critical to remember because it doesn't do much good to do a lot of digging and find out information that is beneficial to the public if you can't make it something the public really is interested in and wants to learn about. And so, you know, what I look for in the, as you say, the sort of most exciting moment is when I have

both an interesting story and compelling story of some importance, but also a compelling way to tell it. And that's usually through the eyes of the people who have lived it. And that's what I'm about.

both an interesting story and compelling story of some importance, but also a compelling way to tell it. And that's usually through the eyes of the people who have lived it. And that's what I'm about.