Rada, RF (Rada, Roy F.) Retractions, press releases and newspaper coverage HEALTH INFORMATION AND LIBRARIES JOURNAL, 24 (3): 210-215 SEP 2007

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Address: rada at umbc.edu 

Author(s): Rada, RF (Rada, Roy F.) 

Title: Retractions, press releases and newspaper coverage 

Source: HEALTH INFORMATION AND LIBRARIES JOURNAL, 24 (3): 210-215 SEP 2007 

Language: English 

Document Type: Article 

Keywords Plus: MEDIA; MEDICINE; JOURNALS; ARTICLE; SCIENCE; IMPACT; FRAUD; 
NEWS; SEE 

Abstract: Objectives: To explore how often newspapers cover the retraction 
of a medical journal article and whether newspaper coverage corresponds 
with the appearance of a press release about the retraction.
Methods: Fifty citations were identified in PubMed that had been indexed 
with the Medical Subject Heading 'Retracted Publication'. Next, the 
archives of LexisNexis's 'Major Newspapers' and EurekAlert's press 
releases were searched to find references to those retracted publications.
Results: Newspaper articles addressed exactly three of the 50 retracted 
publications, and press releases, exactly four of the 50 retracted 
publications. All three retracted publications that received newspaper 
coverage also had a press release. In other words, newspapers only covered 
a retraction that had been introduced by a press release.
Conclusion: One would expect that newspaper coverage would increase after 
a press release, but the suggested relationships among a medical journal 
article retraction, a press release and newspaper coverage should be 
further investigated. If the linkage suggested by the data of this study 
holds, and if newspaper coverage stimulates library patron interest, then 
a medical library might prepare itself for information requests following 
a press release. 

Addresses: Univ Maryland Baltimore Cty, Dept Informat Syst, Baltimore, MD 
21250 USA 

Reprint Address: Rada, RF, Univ Maryland Baltimore Cty, Dept Informat 
Syst, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 USA. 

E-mail Address: rada at umbc.edu 

Cited Reference Count: 34 

Times Cited: 0 

Publisher: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING 

Publisher Address: 9600 GARSINGTON RD, OXFORD OX4 2DQ, OXON, ENGLAND 

ISSN: 1471-1834 

29-char Source Abbrev.: HEALTH INFO LIBR J 

ISO Source Abbrev.: Heatlth Info. Libr. J. 

Source Item Page Count: 6 

Subject Category: Information Science & Library Science 

ISI Document Delivery No.: 210JZ 

*NAT CTR BIOT INF
PUBM HELP : 2007 

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