Headlines Never Present the Entire Scientific Evidence

A new study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine sheds light on how the U.S. news media recently portrayed scientific evidence and the uncertainty surrounding unproven therapeutics.

The research team analyzed news reports on how scientific evidence, evidence details and limitations, safety, efficacy, and sources of authority were portrayed to the public.

“We found that 67% of news reports included scientific evidence, but only 24% mentioned scientific publications or journals,” said the study’s corresponding author in a press release on August 29, 2024.

 Zubin Master, Ph. D., associate professor of social sciences and health policy at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, commented, “This period of time (the recent pandemic) was when medical specialists and the general public were anxiously scrambling to learn as much as possible about prevention and treatments because there were yet no proven therapeutics or vaccines."

"This makes for an ideal case study to examine how the news media portrays scientific evidence.”

According to the American Press Institute, only 40% of the public read news articles beyond headlines or lead paragraphs.

“It’s crucial, especially with controversial science topics, that the evidence and uncertainty are featured more prominently,” Master said.

The study authors also noted that science can be strengthened by acknowledging limitations and by portraying science as a process that is constantly changing and being corrected as additional knowledge is gained.

These findings appear online in the Journal of Medical Internet Research Infodemiology.