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.
A new case of COVID-19 has been reported in the UK, where transmission also occurred in the UK. Prof … read more
Reaction to WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’s, opening remarks at the February 28th media briefing on COVID-19. Prof … read more
One of the British citizens who tested positive for the coronavirus aboard the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan … read more
A dog in Hong Kong has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus. Prof Jonathan Ball, Professor of Molecular Virology, University … read more
There have been multiple new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the UK. Prof Jonathan Ball, Professor of Molecular Virology, … read more
The first case of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa has been confirmed in a person who travelled from Milan to Nigeria. … read more
Research, published in Nature, reports a possible link between bacterial infection and correctional cancer. Prof David Dearnaley, Professor of Uro-Oncology … read more
Comment on the seasonality of the current coronavirus outbreak. Dr Michael Skinner, Reader in Virology, Imperial College London, said: … read more
Facemasks are increasingly being used by the public in reaction to the current coronavirus outbreak. Dr Ben Killingley, Consultant … read more
The UK Court of Appeal has ruled the planed Heathrow 3rd runway expansion as illegal. Dr Joanna Cox, Head … read more
England’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Prof Chris Whitty, has announced 2 new cases of COVID-19 in the UK. Prof … read more
There has been a case reported in Japan where a woman has been confirmed as a coronavirus case for 2nd … read more
A correspondence piece, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), discuses an animal model of inhaled vitamin E … read more
Some areas of the UK are continuing to experience flooding conditions, with flood warnings in place for over 90 locations … read more
Various measures are being put in place in the UK and further afield to try to reduce the contact between … read more
Guest in a hotel in Tenerife, including some British citizens, have been placed under quarantine after a visiting Italian doctor … read more
More comments from experts on recent developments in the COVID-19 outbreak. Prof Andrew Tatem, Professor within Geography and Environmental … read more
Experts comment on the cases of COVID-19 in Iran, where 95 cases and 15 deaths have been reported (as of … read more
Public Health England have announced a new surveillance system for the early detection of COVID-19. Wednesday 26th Feb Dr … read more
The UK government has updated its travel advice for British residents returning from some countries, including Italy. Prof Andrew … read more
