Retorts

Controlling Coverage

Given recent discussion about the role of the media in science, you may be interested in seeing the House of Lords (Select Committee on Science and Technology Third Report). In this look at the place of science, public perception and the media's relationship with science, there are some interesting points made.

One concerns recommendations by the Royal Society regarding a special Code of Practice for science coverage (and, by implication, for science journalists) requiring:

• accuracy (demonstrate steps taken to ensure this)
• credibility of scientists and their work (assess and establish)
• balance (identify majority view)
• uncertainty (how to present)
• legitimacy (quality assurance, peer review)
• advice (authoritative, specialists including science journalists)
• responsibility (especially with regard to breakthroughs)

One would hope that all these things are part of a "normal" journalist's rounds!

James Anderson, Glasgow

The media section can be seen online at http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199900/ldselect/ldsctech/38/3810.htm