Science in the media – where to get the truth?

I was lied to by FOX News Chicago and the story distorted. In around 20 TV appearances that is the only time that happened.

FOX is the source of “The Apollo Moon Landing Hoax.”

When FOX discusses global warming, they often say, “Which we know is not believed by most scientists.” That is false. It was true 15 YEARS ago. Little by little evidence changed scientists minds. Now an overwhelming majority do, and consider it a very serious problem.

FOX presents false information about the science of evolution.

So….is FOX the problem? No! Most stations present pseudoscience over science when it serves their purposes.

When we discovered the cause of the “ghosts” in the cemetery near UCLA was an artifact of the video camera used by CBS TV to show the “ghosts,” they had no interest in running the explanation. As they said, “Unexplained ghosts attract more viewers than explained ghosts.”

Channels like “The History Channel” present many programs where pseudoscience is treated like science.

Keep in mind that the goal of this kind of TV is NOT to present accurate science!

The main exceptions I have personally experienced are public TV and public Radio (PBS and NPR). And BBC.

Programs like “NOVA” usually present accurate science.

Programs such as “Frontline” are usually impressively thorough but only cover science occasionally.

In my four years on NPR no one EVER told me what to say.

My experience shows that not having advertisers helps when you want to present science that some may find controversial.

If a science issue is important to you, you can always use our “Good Science” links, look up information, and read for yourself!