Medical journalism is news reporting (as opposed to peer-reviewed publications) about news and medical features. Medical journalism varies, and reflects the audience. The main divisions are to become (1) medical journalism for the general public, covering medical coverage in public news publications and specialized medical publications; and (2) medical journalism for physicians and other professionals, often appearing in peer-reviewed journals. The accuracy of medical journalism varies greatly. Reviews of mass media publications have been rated largely unsatisfactory, although there are examples of excellence. Other reviews have found that most of the errors in mass media publications are the result of repetition of errors in original journal articles or their press releases. Some websites, such as HealthNewsReview.org and Columbia Journalism Review, review medical journalism.
Video Medical journalism
Sumber
Medical journalism can come from a variety of sources including:
- Television news program
- Newspapers
- Internet web site
- Scientific journals (which report health and medical related news)
Maps Medical journalism
Accuracy
Most of the inaccuracies and speculations in news coverage can be attributed to some of the barriers between the scientific community and the general public that include lack of knowledge by journalists, lack of time for preparing appropriate reports, and lack of space in publications. Most news articles fail to address important issues such as evidence quality, cost, and risk versus benefits. However, medical journalism is not only commercialized and covered by news and mass media. There is also a branch of extensive and more academic medical journalism based on evidence. Evidence-based research is more accurate and therefore a much more reliable source of medical news spread by tabloids. Medical journalism in this case is a professional field and is often ignored. There are also some medical journalism institutions that provide assistance to medical researchers to enable them to conduct more reliable research. A 2009 study found minor improvements in some areas of medical reporting in Australia, but overall quality remains poor, especially in commercial television programs that are in demand by humans.
Recently, the use of medical writers has become more popular as a way of generating medical literature that is clear, concise, and more readable by ordinary people.
The ICMJE, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editor, is a committee that specializes in such matters. The organization is committed to keeping medical reporting as truthful as possible by setting a standard known as URM, or the Uniform Requirements for the Manuscript. These requirements not only determine technical points such as bibliographic references and copyright but also on ethical issues that may arise. For example, the sender should disclose a personal or professional relationship that may have little effect on the job being submitted.
For this purpose, it is not uncommon for researchers to hold a press conference or interview before publishing significant research to prevent misunderstanding of any data or method.
Conflicts of interest
Between scientists and journalists
The big gap divides the scientific community and journalists when deciding what is newsworthy. The ongoing nature of peer review in the scientific community makes it difficult to report exciting advances in scientific discovery. As a result, this can create a focus on the negative aspects of medicine and science; causing reporters to report the errors of the doctors or misinterpret the results of the study. However, journalists are not the only ones wrong because scientists are also broadcasting their promising initial research to the media in an effort to secure future funding. For example, research conducted by George Washington University in 1993 on in-vitro fertilization was undermined by the media into a terrifying hunt for human cloning.
Due to corporate influence
Medical journalists also face challenges due to potential conflicts of interest. The pharmaceutical industry has sponsored journalism contests that bring large prizes in cash or on overseas trips. The Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) urges journalists to consider the contest thoroughly before entering, and most journalists avoid it. Center for Excellence in Health Care Journalism, 501 (c) (3) supporters for AHCJ, does not receive industrial funding. The National Association of Science Writers does not accept such funding. The changing nature of news media has led more journalists to freelance work, outside of traditional news organizations such as large metropolitan newspapers, which may have created more ways to avoid standards of conflict of interest, and the emergence of blogs has allowed non-traditional providers of news does not have this standard completely.
There is also the effect of direct corporate investment in research funding. While appreciated by scientists, this can cause conflict with journalists who see this as profiteering.
Reviews
Sources for evaluating health care media coverage include the review website Behind the Main Leader, Health News Review and Media Doctor (see External links ), along with special academic journals such as Journal of Health Communication > Reviews can also appear in the American Journal of Public Health , Columbia Journalism Review , Ben Goldacre's "Bad Science" column at The Guardian , and another. Health News Review has published criteria for news rating news.
Effects on the general public
Although medical news articles often communicate public health messages effectively, they often convey false or misleading information about health care, in part when journalists do not know or can not deliver the results of clinical studies, and partly when they fail to provide a reasonable context. This can generate unrealistic expectations because of the scope of radical medical procedures and experimental technology. Mass media news stations can also create a "communications storm" to divert attention to one health problem. The lack of public health knowledge creates a situation where one can easily vacate to a particular point of view thrown in the way in which information is reported. As a result, this can create a potentially unhealthy focus on a disease that is in fact relatively rare.
Medical journalism can also affect the quality of one's health care. Due to the relative ease with which information can be obtained on the internet, many people will now ask their doctors about new treatments and treatments for their condition. In more extreme cases, people will compare their symptoms, real or imaginary, with various illnesses in an attempt to diagnose themselves. There have been several new studies that have tried to explore the availability of health information as a complement to health care or as a substitute but no direct relationship was found. This is most likely due to a lack of knowledge or lack of ability in individuals to apply health information that has ever been discovered so as to seek health care.
Training
Only a handful of universities and institutes globally offer undergraduate, graduate or diploma programs related to medical journalism. The University of Westminster, UK conducts BA Honors in Medical Journalism. In the US, Boston University through its College of Communication organizes the Science and Medical Journalism program leading to the Master of Science degree. For those seeking an online education mode, James Lind Institute undertakes Diploma and Advanced Diploma programs related to Scientific Writing and Medical Journalism.
See also
- Medical text
- Science via press conference
- Social health determinants
References
External links
- Doctor Media (Australia)
- Behind the Headlines (English)
- Health News Reviews (U.S.)
- How to Read Healthy Articles and Health Care by Alicia White
- Association of Medical Journalists (UK)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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