Abstract
Background: Exaggerations in health news were previously found to strongly associate with similar exaggerations in press releases. Moreover, such press release exaggerations did not appear to attract more news. Methods: Here we tested the replicability of these findings in a new cohort of news and press releases based on research in UK universities in 2014 and 2015. Press releases and news were compared to their associated peer-reviewed articles to define exaggeration in advice, causal claims and human inference from non-human studies. Results: We found that the association between news and press releases did not replicate for advice exaggeration, while this association did replicate for causal claims and human inference from non-human studies. There was no evidence for higher news uptake for exaggerated press releases, consistent with previous results. Base exaggeration rates were lower for human inference from non-human studies, possibly reflecting the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK. Conclusions: Overall, the picture remains that the strength of news statements is normally associated with the strength of press release statements, and without evidence that exaggerated statements get significantly more news.
Highlights
Exaggerations in health news were previously found to strongly associate with similar exaggerations in press releases
51% (95% confidence interval = 40% to 62%) of press releases where advice existed in the article set contained advice not present in the journal article, or advice that was more direct than that in the journal article
Some bodies recommend avoiding de novo advice (e.g. “Distinguish between findings and interpretation or extrapolation; don’t suggest health advice if none has been offered”, Science Media Centre, 2018), some press officers and journalists have expressed to us the view that it is sometimes their duty to include advice pertaining to the topic at hand
Summary
Exaggerations in health news were previously found to strongly associate with similar exaggerations in press releases. Press releases and news were compared to their associated peer-reviewed articles to define exaggeration in advice, causal claims and human inference from non-human studies. Results: We found that the association between news and press releases did not replicate for advice exaggeration, while this association did replicate for causal claims and human inference from non-human studies. Base exaggeration rates were lower for human inference from non-human studies, possibly reflecting the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK. Conclusions: Overall, the picture remains that the strength of news statements is normally associated with the strength of press release statements, and without evidence that exaggerated statements get significantly more news
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