How does science make the headlines?

Instead of talking to a researcher or scientist about a controversial headline, we interviewed Fiona Fox, CEO of the Science Media Centre and author of Beyond the Hype: Inside Science’s Biggest Media Scandals from Climategate to Covid to find out how the science makes it into the headlines.

When news articles cover new research findings, you’ll often see a quote from a scientist giving their opinion on the evidence. This journalist has likely gone via the Science Media Centre to find an expert to comment on the story.

Communication between journalists and scientists is not always smooth sailing. News articles can have sensational headlines and can include exaggerated research findings – which is part of the motivation for us to make this podcast.

Journalists and news outlets aren’t always the ones to blame. Journalists are under pressure to write interesting stories and catch people’s attention, but scientists are under pressure to generate evidence and explain complex concepts in an accessible way.  

This week we find out: how scientists and the media community and how science makes it into the headlines.

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