Science a GoGo's Home Page Forums General Discussion General Science Discussion Forum Sensationalizing Science

A report by the Social Market Foundation (SMF), an independent research group, has accused the UK media of sensationalising science.

It says irresponsible reporting can undermine public confidence in science and government, and on issues like vaccination may even cost lives.

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4771154.stm

When did lying to sell roduct ever hurt an industry? Perhaps science ought to adopt the position so gloriously ridden by religion, business, politics, and charity: Official Truth for the mob (e.g., "this is a great car"), empirical truth for the ruling classes (e.g., "so you are a frat brother..."), real truth for the ruling classes' technicians.

If enough people say it's a "great car" we don't know if it becomes a great car in fact. People often begin to believe their own lies. I think criticism need not be fair, if it was it wouldn't be criticism at all in the practical sence of it's everyday use. You must not just be right, but be seen to be right.

I always thought it was only the "string" theorists and "quantum gravity" theorists that sensationalise virtual physics as if it is real?

Getting back to the original story, I think the sensationalism of science stories has a long history. Remember Hitler's use of propaganda to turn people against the Jews? The same thing is happening in Science. If only the bad stories get published, and let's face it, good news is stale news for most press outlets, the public's opinion is going to be distorted. It's easy to publish failure stories; the good news, how many people were spared these life-threatening ailments, can only be estimated. Estimates don't make good press releases.

a good example of that is the global warming thing. anything that sounds like were about to be destroyed sells. same that blames the politician or big business. if someone tries to publish an article that states that the earth is doing exactly whats its been doing for 14000 years, and what its done in the past, no one will put it on the front page. most likely if most newspapers ran the story, they'd have it on the back page or next to the orbit's or they would find a dozen ppl calling writer everything but a child of god.

remember freud's psychoanalysis? i think sensationalism is a powerfull tool to sell any products.

true. it does not mean the products is worth selling, but it does make it sellable.