Medical Journalism: Exposing Fact, Fiction, Fraud Review

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(More customer reviews)The author, an M.D. with a background in journalism, provides an informative introduction to medical journalism.
Chapter 1 discusses the nature and scope of medical journalism. Chapter 2 identifies facets of journalism that can pose barriers to providing good reporting for the public. Chapter 3 examines the problems that journalists face when trying to identify and understand scientific facts in medicine, and offers pointers on how journalists can evaluate claims made about medical research and treatment. Chapter 4 notes the need for a journalist to understand the difference between qualitative medical claims with quantitative medical claims, briefly analyzes the forms of medical reasoning, and argues reporters need to be critical and skeptical when faced with claims of promising medical treatments. Chapter 5 discusses ten specific pitfalls that reporters need to avoid in medical reporting. Chapter 6 provides several reasons why reporters need to be critical when engaged in medical reporting. Chapter 7 contends reporters need to investigate certain topics, including the promotion of health and medical products, alternative medicine, and scientific fraud. Chapter 8 surveys online aspects of medical journalism. Although the information in Chapter 8 is somewhat dated as of the date of this review, it is not entirely obsolete and offers ideas that could provide useful leads for online research even today.
This book should be of primary interest to journalists, journalism students, public affairs professionals, and health care professionals who deal with the media. Other potential readers could be members of the general public interested in medical reporting, government officials or employees dealing with medical or health care issues, and persons interested in medical or scientific writing.

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Translation of Studentlitteratur, c2000, by Lund. Explains how journalists can improve stories by asking sharper questions and tapping better sources, and how medical experts should be able to back up statements about treatment effects, health risks, and diagnostic tests. Includes interviews with journalists, research, and online resources. Softcover.

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