Rapid Reactions: responding to breaking news. The demands of the 24-hour media machine mean that news journalists often don’t have the luxury of time to track down the best scientists when a science story lands on their desks, so availability can sometimes win out over expertise. This is where the Science Media Centre steps in. When a story breaks – whether it’s the latest flu epidemic, health scare or a potential nuclear crisis – the SMC persuades leading experts to drop everything and engage with the story, then contacts journalists at all the major news outlets to offer those experts for interviews or immediate comment.
Roundups: putting new research into context. One of the other ways the SMC ensures that the media have easy access to scientists and their views is by offering journalists a variety of comments from scientists reacting to the latest research. This service differs from our ‘Rapid Reactions’ as scientists have time to react before new research is announced, rather than in response to breaking news.
With access to embargoed journals before publication, we can pick stories of most interest to journalists, asking third party experts to provide comments and information to put research into context before it appears in the media. The SMC’s unique Roundups help busy journalists critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of new research, and highlight when studies are very preliminary or display a correlation that should not be read as causation. Equally, when leading scientists are excited about a significant study this can reassure journalists that the study should feature strongly in their coverage.
Scientists comment on the UK Government’s decision on prostate screening following the final recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee. … read more
Scientists comment on a proposed target for emission reduction, announced by the department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ). … read more
Scientists comment on a press release from Grail and presented at ASCO on unpublished results from the NHS-Galleri trial. … read more
Two studies published in The Lancet look at a blood test and new brain scan for detecting early biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease. … read more
Scientists comment on a final recommendation for a national screening programme for prostate cancer from the UK National Screening Committee … read more
Scientists comment on topline results from a phase III clinical trial of the hormone receptor agonist Retatrutide. Prof Graham … read more
A study published in the European Heart Journal looks at preservative food additives and blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. Rachel Richardson, … read more
A meta-analysis published in The BMJ looks at evidence for vitamin D supplementation to prevent fractures and falls in older people. … read more
A study published in Cell Reports Physical Science looks at volatile organic compound exposure from recreational vehicles and health implications. … read more
Scientists comment on the Enhanced Games starting this week. Dr Catherine Norton, Associate Professor Sport & Exercise Nutrition, University … read more
A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine uses Mendelian randomisation to look at associations between exercise and cardiovascular health. … read more
Scientists comment on the genomes of the Bundibugyo virus from the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda. Dr … read more
Scientists comment on the fourth case of meningitis in Reading. Prof Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, … read more
Scientists comment on a press release from Colossal Biosciences announcing that chicks have been hatched from an artificial egg system. … read more
A study published in JAMA Neurology looks at football heading and elevations in blood biomarkers of neural damage. Dr Peter Theobald, … read more
A follow-up of an RCT published in JAMA Network Open looks at vitamin D3 supplementation during pregnancy and cognitive performance of … read more
Scientists comment on the latest Hantavirus update from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on receiving doses of the antiviral … read more
Scientists comment on the World Health Organisation declaring the Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is determined … read more
Scientists comment on a meningitis cases confirmed in Reading. Dr Eliza Gil, Clinical Lecturer at the London School of … read more
Scientists comment on an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Dr Anne Cori (and team*), Associate … read more
