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Exaggerations and Caveats in Press Releases and Health-Related Science News
Petroc Sumner1,2, Solveiga Vivian-Griffiths1,2, Jacky Boivin2
1Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|December 16, 2016
Summary
Press releases from science journals often contain exaggerations and caveats. These elements do not affect news coverage, suggesting press releases are key to accurate science communication.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical and health science communication
- Scientific journalism
- Public health messaging
Background:
- Exaggerated or simplistic news can negatively impact public health.
- Previous research indicated exaggerations in university press releases did not increase news coverage.
- The origin and impact of exaggerations and caveats in journal press releases were unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if prominent science and medical journal press releases contain exaggerations and caveats.
- To investigate if these press release elements influence news coverage.
- To assess the effect of mitigating caveats on news interest.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative content analysis of 534 biomedical and health-related press releases from leading journals.
- Analysis of 534 associated peer-reviewed papers and 582 news stories.
- Examination of advice to readers and causal statements from correlational research.
Main Results:
- Press release exaggerations predicted news exaggerations but did not increase coverage.
- Caveats in press releases did not reduce journalistic uptake but increased caveats in news coverage.
- Journal press releases were identified as the primary source of exaggerations and caveats in related news.
Conclusions:
- Press releases are the main source of exaggerations and caveats in science and health news.
- Exaggerations in press releases do not boost news coverage, and caveats do not decrease it.
- Scientists and press officers are encouraged to minimize exaggeration and include caveats in press releases.
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