Miranda GF, Vercellesi L, Bruno F. "Information sources in biomedical science and medical journalism:: methodological approaches and assessment" Pharmacological Research 50(3):267-272, September 2004.

[Eugene Garfield]

Giovanna F. Miranda :
E-mail Addresses: giovanna.miranda at sanofi-synthelabo.com

Title:     Information sources in biomedical science and medical journalism:
           methodological approaches and assessment

Author   : Miranda GF, Vercellesi L, Bruno F

Source   : PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH 50 (3): 267-272 SEP 2004

Document Type: Article   Language: English
Cited References: 31     Times Cited: 0

Abstract: Throughout the world the public is showing increasing interest in
medical and scientific subjects and journalists largely spread this
information, with an important impact on knowledge and health. Clearly,
therefore, the relationship between the journalist and his sources is
delicate: freedom and independence of information depend on the independence
and truthfulness of the sources.

The new "precision journalism" holds that scientific methods should be
applied to journalism, so authoritative sources are a common need for
journalists and scientists. We therefore compared the individual
classifications and methods of assessing of sources in biomedical science
and medical journalism to try to extrapolate scientific methods of
evaluation to journalism.

In journalism and science terms used to classify sources of information show
some similarities, but their meanings are different. In science primary and
secondary classes of information, for instance, refer to the levels of
processing, but in journalism to the official nature of the source itself.

Scientists and journalists must both always consult as many sources as
possible and check their authoritativeness, reliability, completeness,
up-to-dateness and balance. In journalism, however, there are some important
differences and limits: too many sources can sometimes diminish the quality
of the information. The sources serve a first filter between the event and
the journalist, who is not providing the reader with the fact, but with its
projection. Journalists have time constraints and lack the objective
criteria for searching, the specific background knowledge. and the expertise
to fully assess sources.

To assist in understanding the wealth of sources of information in
journalism, we have prepared a checklist of items and questions. There are
at least four fundamental points that a good journalist, like any scientist,
should know: how to find the latest information (the sources), how to assess
it (the quality and authoritativeness), how to analyse and filter it
(selection), how to deal with too many sources of information, sometimes
case biased by conflicting interests (balance). The journalist must, in
addition, know how to translate it to render it accessible and useful to the
general public (dissemination), and how to use it best. (C) 2003 Elsevier
Ltd. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords: information dissemination; mass media; scientific
information; joumalism

Addresses: Miranda GF (reprint author), Sanofi Synthelabo Spa, Res Ctr
Sanofi Midy, Via Piranesi 38, Milan, I-20137 Italy
Sanofi Synthelabo Spa, Res Ctr Sanofi Midy, Milan, I-20137 Italy
Univ Milan, Ctr Drug Commun Studies, Dept Pharmacol, Milan, Italy

Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS LTD ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, 24-28 OVAL RD, LONDON
NW1 7DX, ENGLAND

IDS Number: 851FL
ISSN: 1043-6618

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