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Would it be too much to ask that, when a journalist writes on a topic they don't understand, they should ask an expert "hey can you sanity check this" before pu
by cousin_it 6y ago
Would it be too much to ask that, when a journalist writes on a topic they don't understand, they should ask an expert "hey can you sanity check this" before publishing?
- aj3 6y agoIt's not necessarily malice. Experts rarely have time to review some bullshit for free and the tight timelines don't help.
- cousin_it 6y agoIf the journalist talked to the expert while writing the article, the expert will always be happy for a chance to sanity check. The only reason that's so often not done is because the journalist is on a power trip.
- mattkrause 6y agoI asked some science journalists about this on Twitter. Tight deadlines are a problem, but the bigger issue is that there’s some sort of journalistic principle about not letting “sources” see—-or approve—-the completed article. I don’t totally understand why, but I think they were a little unclear on what most scientists want, which is more like checking language and details (a lot of words that seem synonymous aren't in technical contexts) than controlling the overall message.
- zozbot234 6y agoSeems like the obvious argument for open, post-publication review.
- fche 6y ago... and yet newspapers are shutting down comment sections
- justin66 6y agoNewspaper comment sections are highly problematical. You have occasional thoughtful posts mixed in with hundreds of completely moronic, bigoted, and deeply stupid posts. When a comments section gets bad enough that it demands moderation, perhaps it's better to get out of that business entirely. (No need to get rid of the letters to the editor.)
- kaybe 6y agoIn Germany we have this organisation: https://www.sciencemediacenter.de/en/ https://www.sciencemediacenter.de/en/ for journalists to quickly find an expert to ask.