Comments on: Anatomy of a bad science story. http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-bad-science-story/ Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:46:45 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: discount halloween costumes http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-bad-science-story/comment-page-1/#comment-3213 discount halloween costumes Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:47:54 +0000 http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-a-bad-science-story/#comment-3213 I'm pleased someone chose to sooner or later clear things up on this. I have reflected on it frequently. :) I’m pleased someone chose to sooner or later clear things up on this. I have reflected on it frequently. :)

]]> By: Greg Laden http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-bad-science-story/comment-page-1/#comment-302 Greg Laden Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:22:00 +0000 http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-a-bad-science-story/#comment-302 Lim:<br/><br/>Lighten up, man! This is an important issue. It is simply the truth that at the lower and middle end of science reporting, the scientific work being reported is, to put it bluntly, misreported. <br/><br/>A result of this is the growth in many areas of science (genetics, human evolution, cancer studies) of a kind of misinformed culture, to the extent that even the better science reporting has to bow to the misconceptions that have emerged in said culture.<br/><br/>It's a serious problem that needs to be dealt with. <br/><br/>(So, I said "lighten up" then I got very serious ... what I mean is that you are giving our host a hard time for saying something that needs to be said.) Lim:

Lighten up, man! This is an important issue. It is simply the truth that at the lower and middle end of science reporting, the scientific work being reported is, to put it bluntly, misreported.

A result of this is the growth in many areas of science (genetics, human evolution, cancer studies) of a kind of misinformed culture, to the extent that even the better science reporting has to bow to the misconceptions that have emerged in said culture.

It’s a serious problem that needs to be dealt with.

(So, I said “lighten up” then I got very serious … what I mean is that you are giving our host a hard time for saying something that needs to be said.)

]]> By: The Factician http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-bad-science-story/comment-page-1/#comment-301 The Factician Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:19:00 +0000 http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-a-bad-science-story/#comment-301 <i>It is sad, but inevitable, that some of the finer detail of the methodology...</i><br/><br/>To the point of being wrong? That's the problem, if you follow his rules (which many science writers do) you end up writing a story that is wrong. Not just subtly wrong, but fundamentally and completely wrong. <br/><br/>Take this story: http://conspiracyfactory.blogspot.com/2007/09/oy-journalists.html<br/><br/>A large number of newspapers are now writing that you can extract energy by burning seawater. That's not a case of "missing small details". It's a case of by not checking the details, missing that this is a hoax. It is sad, but inevitable, that some of the finer detail of the methodology…

To the point of being wrong? That’s the problem, if you follow his rules (which many science writers do) you end up writing a story that is wrong. Not just subtly wrong, but fundamentally and completely wrong.

Take this story: http://conspiracyfactory.blogspot.com/2007/09/oy-journalists.html

A large number of newspapers are now writing that you can extract energy by burning seawater. That’s not a case of “missing small details”. It’s a case of by not checking the details, missing that this is a hoax.

]]> By: Sara http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-bad-science-story/comment-page-1/#comment-281 Sara Mon, 10 Sep 2007 02:02:00 +0000 http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-a-bad-science-story/#comment-281 Your post shows that while you may be an avid reader of science stories, you clearly don't write 'em. <br/>Writing a good science news story is all about holding people's attention for long enough to impart the major points. It is sad, but inevitable, that some of the finer detail of the methodology, historical context and implications of the research will be lost. <br/>I'm sure that many other disciplines than science similarly complain that journalists have "simplified" their work. <br/>If we followed your rule book, the science stories produced would be dull, but worthy. No one would read them. Many people would miss out on the thrill of science Your post shows that while you may be an avid reader of science stories, you clearly don’t write ‘em.
Writing a good science news story is all about holding people’s attention for long enough to impart the major points. It is sad, but inevitable, that some of the finer detail of the methodology, historical context and implications of the research will be lost.
I’m sure that many other disciplines than science similarly complain that journalists have “simplified” their work.
If we followed your rule book, the science stories produced would be dull, but worthy. No one would read them. Many people would miss out on the thrill of science

]]> By: matt http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-bad-science-story/comment-page-1/#comment-280 matt Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:59:00 +0000 http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-a-bad-science-story/#comment-280 thanks for the hilarious and at times painful read. thanks for the hilarious and at times painful read.

]]> By: Wizard of Oz http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-bad-science-story/comment-page-1/#comment-277 Wizard of Oz Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:13:00 +0000 http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-a-bad-science-story/#comment-277 as a representative from a country that is nervous about its place in the world and a little insecure, we always seem to have to include "world leading" to describe our researchers. if they aren't already world leading, then what are they researching? apparently some fungi produce small compounds that can kill bacteria!!! as a representative from a country that is nervous about its place in the world and a little insecure, we always seem to have to include “world leading” to describe our researchers. if they aren’t already world leading, then what are they researching? apparently some fungi produce small compounds that can kill bacteria!!!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-bad-science-story/comment-page-1/#comment-258 Anonymous Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:41:00 +0000 http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-a-bad-science-story/#comment-258 I think it's worth pointing out that these weaknesses don't just apply to science journalism. They apply to ALL specialist journalism.<br/><br/>Scientists have a tendancy to assume that their discipline is uniquely "badly" represented in the media. Not so.<br/><br/>Do you think that lawyers read law journalism and think "wow, that article really captured the technical details of the law, and accurately portrayed how it works." No. Likewise economists, philosophers, artists, businesspeople, social scientists, etc, etc, etc.<br/><br/>The basic problem is that the norms of journalism are not the same as the norms of science or any other technical discipline. They never have been and they never will be, because the norms of journalism are all about being noticed, read, enjoyed and understood - on a single read, with no assumption of prior knowledge.<br/><br/>If we (yes, I'm a SJ) abandoned the norms of journalism for the norms of science, all it would achieve is that nobody on the outside would read our stuff. <br/><br/>I know which evil I'd choose.<br/><br/>So your post is spot on, but let me assure you that most science journalists (the decent ones anyway) already know this stuff, and wrestle with it daily. I think it’s worth pointing out that these weaknesses don’t just apply to science journalism. They apply to ALL specialist journalism.

Scientists have a tendancy to assume that their discipline is uniquely “badly” represented in the media. Not so.

Do you think that lawyers read law journalism and think “wow, that article really captured the technical details of the law, and accurately portrayed how it works.” No. Likewise economists, philosophers, artists, businesspeople, social scientists, etc, etc, etc.

The basic problem is that the norms of journalism are not the same as the norms of science or any other technical discipline. They never have been and they never will be, because the norms of journalism are all about being noticed, read, enjoyed and understood – on a single read, with no assumption of prior knowledge.

If we (yes, I’m a SJ) abandoned the norms of journalism for the norms of science, all it would achieve is that nobody on the outside would read our stuff.

I know which evil I’d choose.

So your post is spot on, but let me assure you that most science journalists (the decent ones anyway) already know this stuff, and wrestle with it daily.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-bad-science-story/comment-page-1/#comment-255 Anonymous Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:21:00 +0000 http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-a-bad-science-story/#comment-255 Spot on. The "Scotsman", an Edinburgh based newspaper, regularly has science stories written by someone who follows your guidelines. Frequently it takes me a minute searching the internet to find out what the story was really about and who did the research and what they really said. Spot on. The “Scotsman”, an Edinburgh based newspaper, regularly has science stories written by someone who follows your guidelines. Frequently it takes me a minute searching the internet to find out what the story was really about and who did the research and what they really said.

]]> By: Shinga http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-bad-science-story/comment-page-1/#comment-254 Shinga Tue, 04 Sep 2007 19:45:00 +0000 http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-a-bad-science-story/#comment-254 Splendid guide which has given a real shock of recognition when reading through it - who knew that this was so formalised ;-> Splendid guide which has given a real shock of recognition when reading through it – who knew that this was so formalised ;->

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-bad-science-story/comment-page-1/#comment-252 Anonymous Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:01:00 +0000 http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2007/09/anatomy-of-a-bad-science-story/#comment-252 ...if I may also add number 11 to your list:<br/><br/>Come up with top 10 sarcastic comments about science stories to have have your own popular blog story ;) …if I may also add number 11 to your list:

Come up with top 10 sarcastic comments about science stories to have have your own popular blog story ;)

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