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 study published in Wiley Cancer looks at the link between drinking coffee or tea and risk of head and neck … read more
Experts commented on the Government’s plans to completely ban neonicotinoids. Dr Philip Donkersley, Senior Researcher in Ecology and Evolution … read more
A study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia looks at the link between gut infection and risk of Alzheimer’s disease. … read more
A study in JAMA Network Open looks at self-reported physical function in long Covid patients after participating in an outpatient rehabilitation … read more
Scientists comment on the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment. Dr Lisa Norton, Agro-ecologist, senior scientist, UK Centre for Ecology & … read more
A study published in the European Heart Journal looks at wine consumption and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Rachel Richardson, … read more
A network meta-analysis published in the Lancet looks at pharmacological, psychological, and neurostimulatory interventions for ADHD in adults. Prof Philip Shaw, … read more
Scientists comment on the IPBES Nexus Report on Biodiversity. Prof John Spicer, Professor of Marine Zoology, University of Plymouth, … read more
A study published in The BMJ looks at Alzheimer’s disease mortality among taxi and ambulance drivers. Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director … read more
A study published in PNAS looks at human health impacts of plastic chemical exposure. Dr Stephen Burgess, Group Leader at the … read more
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open looks at daily step counts and depression symptoms in adults. … read more
A study published in the Lancet looks at the heath impact of new drugs recommended by the National Institute for Health and … read more
Scientists comment on new legislation on regulatory frameworks for clinical trials, as laid out by UK Parliament. Dr Catriona … read more
A study published in The Lancet Oncology looks at colorectal cancer incidence in young and older adults. Dr Sarah Bailey, NIHR … read more
Scientists comment on an unknown illness in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Prof Paul Hunter, Professor in Medicine, … read more
A study published in Science looks at a mutation in bovine influenza (H5N1) hemagglutinin (HA) which could switch binding specificity to human … read more
Scientists comment on final NICE draft guidance on the use of Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for obesity. Helen Kirrane, Head of … read more
A study published in the BMJ looks at the association between chocolate intake and type 2 diabetes. Dr Mohammad Talaei, Postdoctoral … read more
Scientists comment on the government’s junk food advertising ban legislation. Prof Sarah Berry, Professor of Nutritional Sciences, King’s College … read more
A cohort study published in Communications Medicine looks at effects of long Covid in children and young people over two years. … read more
