2007-09-18 11:37:53 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
This is an interesting question, homework or not.
One of the key determinants of media reporting about science is time. The immediacy of news reporting, even in weekly magazines, strongly discourages the kind of double checking and reasoning that goes along with something as complicated and subtle as science. Reporters just don't have time to get it right--and the target audience doesn't have time to read a complete treatment even if the reporter did have time to write one. Remember the target audience is a consumer. Media is economically motivated by advertising which is not particularly compatible with scientific thought.
2007-09-18 21:29:10 · answer #1 · answered by skip 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The worst place to learn anything scientific is from popular media. Few journalists understand science enough to interpret research or to evaluate scientific sounding claims. This is why people paid $6 for a 2 oz vile of Vitamin O, it's why people paid $80 for refrigerator magnets. It's why people think that a car could work by burning water. It's why some people still believe in cold fusion. Extravagant stories get better ratings. The humble scientists who refute these stories are depicted as jealous, elitist naysayers. The public is left with junk science.
2007-09-18 19:27:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will get a better grade on this assignment if you actually pay attention to what the media say relative to science. Look at the newspaper. Look at some popular "news magazines" and see how science looks there. Visit your library. Show by your answer that you can actually think.
2007-09-19 00:59:03 · answer #3 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋