On The Media - Health & Science

Unhealthy Reporting (On The Media)

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:31 GMT

In a series of blog posts for the Columbia Journalism Review, CJR Contributing Editor Trudy Lieberman takes the press to task for its under-coverage of both candidates' proposals for health insurance reform. And she explains why Obama's plan is neither 'national' nor 'universal.'

I Am Whatever You Say I Am (On The Media)

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:34 GMT

At the forefront of retail medicine are the many companies selling genetic testing over the internet. But in recent months over a dozen of these companies have received cease-and-desist letters from state regulators. Biomedical ethics professor David Magnus explains the stakes when we lose the right to hear the story our genes tell about us.

Search and Destroy (On The Media)

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:35 GMT

The ability to search through massive amounts of data, Google-style, is having far-reaching effects. And, according to Wired Magazine's Chris Anderson, one of the most significant casualties may be the venerable scientific method. He explains why in the age of the petabyte, scientific testing is forever changed and why the numbers now speak for themselves.

Real Virtual Therapy (On The Media)

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:30 GMT

One of the biggest concerns surrounding veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is the high rate of post traumatic stress disorder. But Dr. Skip Rizzo, a research scientist at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies, says virtual reality might help. Using a modified video game, a V.R. headset and even smells he's successfully treated vets.

Ghostwritten Prescriptions (On The Media)

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:21 GMT

The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study this week claiming that esteemed doctors frequently put their name on the byline of studies published in medical journals - when the studies were actually written by pharmaceutical companies. JAMA's editor-in-chief Dr. Catherine DeAngelis explains what steps medical journals should take to prevent this practice.

Meat Marketing (On The Media)

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:17 GMT

An undercover video of a downer cow being dragged into a slaughterhouse at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Company was featured in thousands of news stories this week. Humane Society of the United States CEO Wayne Pacelle explains why these images so successfully captured the media’s attention.

Trials and Tribulations (On The Media)

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:18 GMT

A study out this week found that manufacturers of antidepressants are publishing their successful clinical trials and burying their failures. For those that rely on antidepressants this is another reason to feel bad, but medical reporter Jeanne Lenzer explains why Pharma's selective memory has potential side effects for anyone taking medication.

Food Fight (On The Media)

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:31 GMT

For decades, the consumption of news has complicated our consumption of food. So says Michael Pollan, professor of science and environmental journalism. He explains how health studies, the reporters who love them and especially food labels have left us poorly fed and informed.

Grading on the Curve (On The Media)

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:32 GMT

Americans overwhelmed by a glut of nutritional suggestions may have hope. The food industry is searching for a new way to standardize such information. The University of Washington's Adam Drewnowski has created his own 100-point system for rating food, which may find its way to your grocery shelves soon.

Cut Numbers (On The Media)

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:18 GMT

A few weeks ago, UNAIDS and the WHO revised down the number of those infected globally with HIV/AIDS. Revised down, that is, by 6 million people. What’s a journalist to do when faced with “official” math that doesn’t add up? Harvard research scientist Daniel Halperin provides his equation for the weight of numbers.

Overexposed (On The Media)

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 20:02 GMT

The drug-resistant infection MRSA has been all over the headlines, ever since scientists documented the prevalence of the disease. Experts are glad the issue is getting attention, but they’re not all sure it’s the right kind of attention. WNYC’s Fred Mogul reports.

Genester (On The Media)

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:29 GMT

A couple of Silicon Valley start-ups plan to market genetic testing to the masses. One possible feature is a networking component based on your DNA. Portfolio Magazine contributing editor David Ewing Duncan discusses the future of what may be a multi-billion dollar direct-to-consumer biotech industry.

Yes Nukes? (On The Media)

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:33 GMT

With climate change looming large in the national consciousness, nuclear energy is experiencing a PR makeover. This Monday saw the first proposal for new reactors in America since the Three Mile Island meltdown in 1979. We look into the evolution of nuclear energy's image.

Thank You for Advertising (On The Media)

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:37 GMT

A new study suggests that merely seeing ads for smoking cessation products significantly increases smokers' chances of quitting - even if they never use the product. Alan Mathios, co-author of the study, explains that such ads may even be more effective than traditional anti-smoking campaigns.

It's Easy Being Green (On The Media)

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:15 GMT

Touting a commitment to the environment has become a lucrative strategy for the unlikeliest of industries. And greenwashing ads are where corporate America sells its enviro-conscience. Corporate watchdog John Stauber explains the lack of regulation that lets any company wrap itself in green.

Mad Science (On The Media)

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:00 GMT

In the early ‘90s, the Advancement of Sound Science Coalition, a faux grassroots organization, started casting doubt on global warming. Big Oil was behind the effort. And as Guardian columnist George Monbiot explains, Big Tobacco was too.

The Weather Underground (On The Media)

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:02 GMT

The Weather Channel, long a stalwart of straight-ahead weather reporting, has decided to start comprehensively following the story of climate change. The channel’s resident climatologist Heidi Cullen argues that all TV meteorologists should integrate climate change science into every weather report.

The Big Heat (On The Media)

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:02 GMT

The G8 summit in Germany this week brought new rhetoric from the United States about climate change. President Bush seemed to signal a willingness to cooperate with international partners, after nearly a decade of ignoring international agreements like the Kyoto Protocol. Andrew Revkin, environment reporter for The New York Times, looks at how Bush has warmed to a new approach and the unlikely influence of an old Bush nemesis, Al Gore.

The Big C (On The Media)

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:14 GMT

The recurrence of cancer in both Tony Snow and Elizabeth Edwards brought the disease back into the news this week. Cancer historian James S. Olson explains why a disease as old as we are is just beginning to change its public image.

Interpreter of Maladies (On The Media)

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 18:48 GMT

The psychological trauma of war isn’t new, but the diagnosis is. “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” was coined in 1980, and gave the medical establishment a way to understand the struggles of returning soldiers. PTSD expert Dr. Matthew Friedman explains how changing the phrase helps change the suffering.

Smoke Gets In Their Eyes (On The Media)

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:52 GMT

The impact of movie sex and violence on kids may be up for debate, but with smoking, the science is solid. Teens who see a lot of it are more likely to take up the habit than those who don’t. UCSF Dr. Stanton Glantz wants the MPAA to take smoking as seriously as it takes cursing.

The Persistence of Memory (On The Media)

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 22:03 GMT

Computer scientist Gordon Bell is at the vanguard of a movement called “lifelogging,” digitally recording every moment of his day in an effort to create a complete virtual memory of his life. But why? We talk with Bell and also technology writer Clive Thompson about the implications.

Listen to Brooke's unedited interview with Clive Thompson here.

Sick With Worry (On The Media)

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 22:22 GMT

Avian flu continues to garner headlines – last week’s good, but this week’s bad. In either case, concerns about a pandemic are still real, at least judging from the press. And yet fewer than 150 people have been killed by the illness worldwide. Mike Pesca talks about media and the politics of panic with NYU professor of medicine Marc Siegel, who thinks one of the biggest threats to public health is fear.

Dangerous Extremes (On The Media)

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 22:24 GMT

For years, mainstream reporting on climate change played down the threat, by playing up the impression that the jury was still out about its causes and effects. But looking at recent media, the debate seems to have quieted down, and signs of looming apocalypse are everywhere. Advocates hail the attention, but New York Times science reporter Andrew Revkin thinks the sensational stories could ultimately backfire. He tells Brooke why it’s so hard for newspapers to get the story right.

Tunnel Vision (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:21 GMT

This week, public hearings were held on the West Virginia Sago mine disaster that gripped the country back in January. It turned out 12 of 13 miners died after first having been reported saved. The risks associated with mining rarely catch the attention of journalists – until, that is, something goes horribly wrong. Brooke speaks with Ellen Smith, editor of Mine Safety and Health News, about the response to Sago.

The truth® Hurts (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:14 GMT

Big Tobacco agreed, as part of its 1998 settlement, to fund the American Legacy Foundation and its anti-smoking truth® campaign. The deal stipulates, however, that the Legacy ads cannot "vilify" or "personally attack” the tobacco companies. But Lorillard – which makes Newport, Kent and other brands – argues in a lawsuit that truth® crossed the line. William Sorrell, Chairman of the Board of Legacy, tells Bob that it can't be vilification if it's the truth.

Harper’s Bizarre? (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:21 GMT

Harper’s Magazine is not known for shunning controversy. But, an article in the March issue ignited a blaze of condemnation when it gave an uncritical platform to HIV skeptics, who contend that drugs cause AIDS, not HIV. In response, AIDS researchers issued a flurry of rebuttals. Brooke speaks with Harper’s editor Roger Hodge about the strong reaction to the article and how journalists should proceed when discrediting hard-won scientific research.

Health News Gets a Checkup (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:22 GMT

Gary Schwitzer, of the University of Minnesota's Health Journalism Program, believes that faulty health reporting can actually make the public less healthy. And so he created a website that rates – on a scale from one to five – health news stories from the country’s major media outlets. Schwitzer tells Bob how his new site will up the quality of health reporting.

Health News Gets a Checkup (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:23 GMT

Catastrophic Coverage (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:44 GMT

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the worst nuclear accident in history. But two decades later, Chernobyl’s human toll is still disputed. And if the picture is unclear now, it’s nothing compared to the days and weeks following the explosion. Bob talks with longtime CBS Moscow correspondent and Soviet historian Jonathan Sanders about the journalism that Chernobyl left in its wake.

Medicine Show (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:06 GMT

For years, Kevin Trudeau used late-night infomercials to pitch everything from memory enhancers to cancer cures. He was eventually sued by the Federal Trade Commission, and, in a settlement, agreed to pay two million dollars and cease product sales. And so he did the only thing the government would let him do: he wrote a book called Natural Cures They Don’t Want You to Know About. But, as reporter Sebastian Krueger reports, Trudeau hasn’t exactly stayed one step ahead of the law.

Pyramid Scheme (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:07 GMT

This week, the USDA said it would tweak its new food pyramid to include warnings about mercury in fish. If you didn’t notice, you’re probably not alone, because the latest pyramid design is entirely Internet-based. As NYU nutritionist Marion Nestle told Brooke last year when the new design was unveiled, without the Web it doesn’t communicate much at all -- except a long history of food industry influence.

Bad Science (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:14 GMT

Before we get too deep into 2006, we thought we'd take one last look at some of the ways in which the media got it wrong in 2005. Rebecca Goldin, director of research for George Mason University's Statistical Assessment Service, recounts some of the year's most egregious examples for Bob.

Laboratory Diet (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:51 GMT

A recent poll showed that despite a robust worldwide debate, most Americans know little to nothing about genetically-modified food. That despite the increasing inundation of our shelves with the stuff. Brooke discusses the dearth of GM consciousness with Pew Initiative on Food & Biotechnology executive director Michael Fernandez, and with food and environment writer Michael Pollan.

Real Gore (On The Media)

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 16:06 GMT

When it comes to murder mysteries, good writing is all in the details. How do authors unfamiliar with real-life gore get the particulars just right? By asking an expert, of course. Dr. Robb Bettiker, an infectious disease specialist and advisor to would-be mystery writers, joins Brooke to discuss the bridge between biological truth and fictional blood 'n guts

Pill Box (On The Media)

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:18 GMT

Recalls of popular drugs like Vioxx and Celebrex raise questions about how smart it is for drug companies to bypass doctors and hawk their wares directly to consumers on TV. Some claim the $4 billion spent annually on the ads increase awareness of treatments; others say the result is an overmedicated public clamoring for pills. Brooke consults with Jim Davidson, counsel to the Advertising Coalition, about the ethics of direct-to-consumer ads.

Uncertain Grasp (On The Media)

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:17 GMT

In the previous interview with David Plotz, you might have noticed that Bob invoked the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. He used it to convey the idea that observers necessarily affect the outcome of whatever they observe. But it turns out that Bob's fluency with science analogies is somewhat lacking, and a Nexis search shows he's not the only one. Scientific American editor in chief John Rennie joins Bob to clear up the confusion.

Silence = Death (On The Media)

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:18 GMT

In much of Africa, the media's role in combating HIV/AIDS has been confined for many years to the bloodless recitation of government statistics - reporting that's done little to increase public awareness. Enter Internews, a group that trains local journalists to better understand the underlying science of the epidemic and to report on it from a more human perspective. Bob speaks with Internews advisors Cece Fadope and Mia Malan, resident advisors in Nigeria and Kenya.

Political Science (On The Media)

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:58 GMT

Since 1845, Scientific American has offered readers compelling articles that are, admittedly, partial. Partial, that is, in favor of science. But all that may soon change. In an editorial dated April 1st, editor-in-chief John Rennie wondered if perhaps the magazine should, in proper journalistic fashion, get a little balance. After all, if you believe some politicians, global warming is a hoax. Rennie lets Brooke in on the joke.

John the Skeptic (On The Media)

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:02 GMT

John Stossel, co-host of ABC's 20/20, has consistently been a vocal skeptic of the dangers posed by global warming. And his show has featured scientists and fiction writers who echo his skepticism. When we spoke to journalist and author Ross Gelbspan about global warming last year, he warned us about Stossel's ilk. Brooke gives Stossel a chance to refute Gelbspan's claims that global warming is irrefutable. ARTIST: Soul Coughing TRACK: Soft Serve ALBUM: Irresistible Bliss LABEL: Warner Brothers BREAK I: ARTIST: Ben Allison & Medicine Wheel TRACK: Love Chant Ring Necks ALBUM: Riding the Nuclear Tiger LABEL: Palmetto Jazz

Picturing the World (On The Media)

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:14 GMT

For more than a hundred years, National Geographic has brought the world's furthest flung corners into American living rooms. Offering glimpses of such wonders as Neanderthal language patters, Cambodian Buddhist temples, and caterpillars that fire feces at a velocity of 4.3 feet per second, the magazine has fueled the imaginations of countless armchair explorers. Brooke speaks with Robert Poole, who chronicled the magazine's history in a new book.

Doctor, I've a Pain in My HIPAA (On The Media)

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:42 GMT

Medical reporters play a vital role in documenting hospital practices, but the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA is making it increasingly difficult for them to do so. Andrew Holtz is a freelance medical reporter based in Portland, Oregon and was the former head of the Association of Health Care Journalists. He tells Brooke how HIPAA is giving hospitals the power to shut out journalists.

Medical Malpractice (On The Media)

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:43 GMT

We’ve all heard alarming stories about the extent to which pharmaceutical companies have their hands in what appear to be objective studies on their products. So it comes as a great relief to many patients and physicians alike that there are medical journals to sniff out the real breakthroughs from the steaming piles of marketing hype. But can the peer-reviewed paragons of probity really escape the conflicts of interest that plague medical research in general? Bob takes a look at the story that’s not so evident in the pages of medical journals.

An Element of Confusion (On The Media)

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:37 GMT

The hydrogen economy that President Bush has embraced is getting mixed reviews from both industry groups and environmentalists, making it very difficult for energy consumers to get the straight story. But it may be discrepancies between the science and the policy that are polluting the reporting. Brooke speaks to Dr. Daniel Kamman about energizing the coverage of the hydrogen debate.