The issue focused on specific studies that researchers say show medical research scientists have received millions of dollars for scientific experiments with animals. The study also raised questions about how science journalism would cover such studies.

In an interview, Badgett said she did not report the findings because they were already public and made her job too difficult. She says she didn't think it was fair to research scientists who work in labs where researchers put experiments into patients' bodies.

"It's only research scientists," she said.