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.
Prof Kevin Smith, Abertay University, set out his views on the ethics of human genome editing in a piece published … read more
In a TV interview Prince Andrew claimed that he is unable to sweat due to past trauma whilst in the … read more
Research, published in Science Immunology, reports on a relationship in mice between a ketogenic diet and the response to influenza … read more
Research from the VESUVIUS study, as published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, reports on the difference … read more
Reaction to the flooding across the UK following extremely high levels of rain fall. Nick Reynard, Science Area Head … read more
Boris Johnson has announced plans to increase spending on industrial research and development spending under a future Conservative Government. … read more
Research, published in the European Heart Journal, reports on the relationship between e-cigarette use and damage to the brain, blood … read more
A conference abstract, presented at the Society for Endocrinology annual conference, reports a possible relationship between certain anti-inflammatory treatments and … read more
An abstract, presented at the Society for Endocrinology annual conference, reports on the relationship between common chemicals and the risk … read more
A case study, published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, reports that a 16 year old boy who has been … read more
Reaction to the publication of the Smith-Reid Review “Changes and Choices” which gives advice on international partnership opportunities for UK … read more
A study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, reports a possible connection between screen use and brain development in young children. … read more
Research, published in Nature Medicine, reports that the APOE3 genetic mutation may be protective against Alzheimer’s disease. Prof Tara … read more
An abstract, presented at the 2019 NCRI Cancer Conference, reports on a possible relationship between gut bacteria and bowl cancer risk. … read more
A conference presentation, at the 2019 NCRI Cancer Conference, reports on a possible blood test to detect early signs of … read more
The UK Government has announced that it is withdrawing its support for fracking in the UK. Prof Geoffrey Maitland, … read more
Research, published in JAMA Network Open, reports that risk of developing schizophrenia may be heightened by childhood exposure to air … read more
A study, published in the BMJ, reports that calorie labels in fast food outlets are linked to a small drop in calories … read more
Research, published in the journal Neurology, reports on the relationship between cognitive ability in childhood and in late life. … read more
Research, published in JAMA Psychiatry, reports on the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and other developmental disabilities in children from … read more
