Spotlight

In 2001, Marty Baron is appointed as the new editor of The Boston Globe. His arrival marks a pivotal change in the newspaper's investigative journalism approach, particularly for the Spotlight team.

Baron meets Walter 'Robby' Robinson, the experienced editor of the Spotlight team. This small group of journalists is dedicated to conducting in-depth investigative reports, working under the supervision of Ben Bradlee Jr.

Baron reads a compelling column by attorney Mitchell Garabedian that raises serious allegations against Cardinal Law. Motivated by these claims, he urges the Spotlight team to explore the priest abuse scandal further.

The Spotlight team consults their company lawyer, Eric Macleish, who warns them about the challenges of sexual abuse cases. He explains the short statute of limitations and the reluctance of victims to come forward.

Michael Rezendes reaches out to Garabedian, who is initially dismissive of the request for an interview. Through skillful persuasion, Rezendes convinces him to share his insights about the abuse cases.

As the investigation deepens, the team uncovers a disturbing pattern of sexual abuse by priests. They learn of widespread cover-ups orchestrated by the Boston Archdiocese and a multitude of silenced victims.

Thanks to Paul Saviano from a victims' rights group, the Spotlight team enlarges their focus to investigate **thirteen** priests. This expansion reveals just how systemic the abuse has been within the Catholic Church.

The team finds out that settlements between the Church and victims were conducted secretly. Additionally, they discover that the Church misled the public, claiming that offending priests had been removed from service.

Armed with information from an ex-priest, the Spotlight team learns of approximately ninety predators in Boston. This leads them to compile a list of eighty-seven names of those involved in abusive acts.

Robby and Sacha confront Macleish for a list of priests associated with settlements. During a tense exchange, Robby succeeds in obtaining a buried list of 45 priests, marking a significant breakthrough in their investigation.

The investigation faces a setback due to the events of September 11, which temporarily stalls the Spotlight team's progress. However, they eventually regain focus on their critical work in uncovering the abuse.

The Spotlight team finally gains access to additional legal documents that confirm Cardinal Law's awareness of the abuse. This evidence significantly supports their claims and prepares them for publication.

The team is ready to publish their groundbreaking findings in early 2002. Reflecting on the past, Robinson reveals he had previously received a list of twenty pedophile priests back in 1993 that was ignored.

When the articles are published, they include a powerful call for victims to come forth. This results in a surge of phone calls from individuals ready to share their harrowing stories of abuse.

By December 2002, the Spotlight team publishes 600 stories of abuse linked to 249 priests in Boston. Cardinal Law resigns but is reassigned to a prestigious position in Rome, highlighting the deep-seated issues within the Church.