"And I'm here to tell you not to depend on the mass media as your go-to source for critical health information. That's not to say there's no good reporting out there. There is, but it's inconsistent and not nearly frequent enough, and that situation continues to get worse. But don't despair: You can find reliable health policy and medical news if you know where to look, and we'll get to some specifics in a little bit."
"For as long as publishers have wanted to maximize profits, newspapers used sensationalized reporting, eye-popping headlines ( "Headless Body in Topless Bar") and simplified storylines to snag readers. Radio and then TV added new possibilities. Now it's online clickbait. The technology evolves but the basic approach barely changes because it works: Tell a vivid, gripping story that grabs the attention of readers/viewers/listeners and holds onto it."
"Unfortunately, a clear, gripping storyline often has little room for subtlety and nuance, and medical research is all about subtlety and nuance. As a result, complex but important concepts either get dumbed down or, too often, left out entirely. Crucial caveats get downplayed or omitted."
"For example, highly preliminary and tentative research can be presented as much more important than it really is. I can't tell you how many times I've seen studies of potential new treatments for serious illnesses like cancer or ALS presented as if they represent a huge breakthrough in patient care. But somewhere buried halfway through the story there's"
Mass media coverage of health and health policy is often unreliable for critical information. Sensational headlines and simplified storylines have long been used to maximize profits, and newer online formats add clickbait while keeping the same attention-grabbing approach. Clear, gripping narratives leave little room for the subtlety and nuance required for medical research. Complex concepts may be dumbed down or omitted, and important caveats can be downplayed or left out. Preliminary or tentative research can be presented as a major breakthrough, especially when key limitations are buried later in the story or not emphasized clearly.
#health-information #media-literacy #health-policy #medical-research-communication #clickbait-and-sensationalism
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