5 ms·
Are there good references for journalistic standards for embargos? From a science (and future funding) perspective, large collaborations with important results
by ISL 10y ago
Are there good references for journalistic standards for embargos?
From a science (and future funding) perspective, large collaborations with important results are interested in making a splash (which, referenced in the article, backfired for BICEP). They're interested in quality reporting, but they want to have the opportunity to bring the discovery (think Higgs, gravitational waves, etc.) to the world.
Science stories are hard to report, as the journalist, even one with a science background, needs to come quickly up to speed with a nuanced field.
What's the best way to ensure that a science story can be reported well, as argued for in this article, without the embargo getting jumped?
"Hello, Dr. Not-in-ATLAS/CMS physicist, we've never met before, but I work for the NYT and I'm working on a story appearing Thursday, around the same time as the CERN press conference. If both experiments had observed a single Higgs at 125 GeV mass, what would it mean? Interesting. Also, please don't tell anyone."
Such an embargo would last only tens of seconds after the physicist hung up the phone (and for good reason, as free exchange of information is paramount in academia).
How would you like to see scientists report results? Would you prefer that researchers present results to an unprepared press at the same time as the journal article appears, with improved reporting a week later, or get informed but embargoed reporting at the same time as the announcement?
- striking 10y agoThe SPJ code of ethics[1] states that journalists should (because the "highest and primary obligation of ethical journalism is to serve the public"): – Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility. – Deny favored treatment to advertisers, donors or any other special interests, and resist internal and external pressure to influence coverage. – Explain ethical choices and processes to audiences. Encourage a civil dialogue with the public about journalistic practices, coverage and news content. – Expose unethical conduct in journalism, including within their organizations. . TechCrunch said in 2008 that they will break every embargo they agree to.[2] Edit: they later (2011, 2012) backed down from that pledge. See CobrastanJorji's comment below (thank you!) . The Society of American Business Editors and Writers argue that they are useful to keep the standard of journalism high, but that "journalists are ultimately responsible to the public."[3] . And just for fun, and to make matters more concrete, here's a Slate article in which an example (an article published by the WaPo) is raised that calls the embargo system into question.[4] . [1]: http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp [2]: https://techcrunch.com/2008/12/17/death-to-the-embargo/ https://techcrunch.com/2008/12/17/death-to-the-embargo/ [3]: https://sabew.org/2012/05/the-embargo-and-business-journalists/ https://sabew.org/2012/05/the-embargo-and-business-journalis... [4]: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/press_box/2007/11/breaking_news_not_transcribing_it.html http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/press_box/20... I hope this can help answer your question.
- ISL 10y agoThanks! (an anonymous upvote feels too impersonal)
- CobrastanJorji 10y agoTechCrunch backed down from that pledge. See https://techcrunch.com/2011/12/05/going-too-far-the-techcrunch-embargo-and-other-myths/ https://techcrunch.com/2011/12/05/going-too-far-the-techcrun... -> "Do we break embargoes? Sometimes. Do we break embargoes even after agreeing to them? Sometimes (but very rarely). Do we agree to embargoes and then respect them? Sometimes." or https://techcrunch.com/2012/08/24/the-lyft-launch-that-coulda-been/ https://techcrunch.com/2012/08/24/the-lyft-launch-that-could... -> "For the most part, though, all the TechCrunch writers are cool with embargoes. I don’t know a single person here who doesn’t accept them and we generally all play by the rules." That second article is a good example of another problem with close-hold embargoes. You might wonder "why not just wait until the embargo lifts, then interview someone, then publish?" This article shows a reporter who decides that they couldn't possibly be reduced to posting an article about something another reporter posted about twelve hours previously.
- striking 10y agoThanks for mentioning that. I've edited my comment to refer to yours.
- mcguire 10y agoThe embargoes in question preclude "informed" reporting.
- briandear 10y agoWhy do they need a press announcement to announce the publication of something? The publication is the announcement.