Bad Science Journalism Gets Schooled

TaeKwonDood writes "Biology post-doc Dr. Michael White takes a look at the '2007 Best American Science and Nature Writing' and doesn't like what he finds in an article called Bad Science Journalism and the Myth of the Oppressed Underdog. Turns out it's not just political writers who pick a position they want to advocate and then write stories to confirm it. Science journalism gets a scolding and it's been a long time coming."

Comments

Re:Science has always been biased

[gardyloo]

we must now add those extra pressureses We HATES them, the nassssssty pressureses!

Re:Rather obvious

[ILuvRamen]

speaking of that, your post implies that you seem biased against biased people ;)

Re:obvious != right

[Anonymous Coward]

scientists are too jealous/blinded by hubris in their ivory towers to see and accept what should be so obviously true to everyone else. If your job or grant pays well enough that you can afford to build a whole tower out of the tusks of poached exotic animals, it's not hubris to be defensive of your place in the world, it's your duty as a red blooded American.

Dumb it down to keep it interesting...

[syousef]

That's the way it seems to go. If it's science for entertainment you have to leave out the math, over-simplify every idea so that an illiterate red-neck could follow the argument, and preferably have something explode spectacularly. In lieu of exploding chemicals you can occassionally subsitute a story about someone brilliant being oppressed by those pesky scientists that don't understand a thing.

If you want good science at a popular level you do fair better leaving out the popular press. There are some good books out there. Some of them even let math in the door. Take for example http://www.gravityfromthegroundup.org/

It's fake, everybody

[Headcase88]

Not a single obvious spelling mistake.

Re:Rather obvious

[PCM2]

Question is, is there another way to tell the stories that isn't so formulaic and that doesn't give such an incorrect impression?

Yeah. Sure -- if you're, like, good at your job.

(Though I would add that criticism like yours is what we in the media field need more of.)

Re:Rather obvious

[ultranova]

Question is, is there another way to tell the stories that isn't so formulaic and that doesn't give such an incorrect impression?

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Re:Worship of Ignorance

[hyades1]

Jeez, now I have to take it all back because a couple of sane moderators came along and outvoted the weasel with delusions of omnipotence.

Very well, then, I'll do it like a man: I stand corrected! The system, for the most part, works and the would-be censors will probably get caught and put in their place in time to preserve the diversity of opinion, off-centre humour and freedom from bum-kissing that make /. a nice place to visit.

Hail Cowboy Neal! Hail!