11 tips for journalists: How to avoid blunders when reporting on science
01 januar 2023
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This article is part of the guide 11 tips for journalists: How to avoid blunders when reporting on science. The guide is accessible in three formats:
Online articles regarding each of the 11 tips.
The full guide of 11 tips as a PDF-file.
The 11 tips as a checklist, a one-pager.
Medicine that saves the lives of millions of human beings. New worlds found far from Earth. Groundbreaking discoveries that shed new insights on bygone times.
Science reveals a wealth of fabulous stories and science is by far the most credible source of knowledge available. But uncritical review or poor dissemination and communication of science creates problems that can, in the worst-case scenario, cost lives.
Distorted stories can lead people to opt out of vaccine programmes or vital medicine, slow down climate action or create unnecessary fear in society.
At the leading Danish popular science site Videnskab.dk, we have covered research and science since 2008. In that time, we have made our share of embarrassing mistakes as journalists — and we have learned from them.
Now we are ready to share our lessons with you. In this guide, we have compiled 11 of our best tips on how to avoid committing the errors that we — and other media outlets — have made.
The guide is written for journalists, and its purpose is certainly not to create fear of disseminating news about research and science. On the contrary.
We believe that scientists have an extremely important voice in the media. We trust that better and more critical coverage of science will benefit readers, listeners and viewers and enhance scientists’ and the media’s credibility.
Happy reading.
Vibeke Hjortlund
Editor-in-chief, Videnskab.dk
Read all the tips by clicking the blinking icons at the left in the graphic below.
