Holtzman Neil A, Bernhardt Barbara A, Mountcastle-Shah Eliza, Rodgers Joann E, Tambor Ellen, Geller Gail
Genetics and Public Policy Studies, Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21209, USA.
Community Genet. 2005;8(3):133-44. doi: 10.1159/000086756.
To examine (1) the quality of media reports (newspapers, television and public radio) of genetic discoveries with medical relevance and (2) factors related to the completeness and balance of the stories.
Analysis of the accuracy, balance, and completeness of 228 media stories reporting 24 genetic discoveries between 1996 and 2000 using a previously validated instrument.
Although usually accurate, the stories contained only 45.5 +/- 13.8% (mean +/- SD) of relevant items. Stories appearing on television and stories reporting discoveries of genes for rare diseases were the least complete. Stories in non-US English-speaking newspapers included more content items per word than US stories. Less balanced stories exaggerated the benefits of discoveries, ignored possible risks, and did not present a range of expert opinion. Scientists were sometimes the source of exaggeration.
To increase the quality of media reports about genetic discoveries, stories should include more relevant items and be written by journalists skilled in science writing. Scientists will have to resist the tendency to exaggerate. These conclusions may apply to media stories of other discoveries as well.
研究（1）具有医学相关性的基因发现的媒体报道（报纸、电视和公共广播）质量，以及（2）与报道完整性和平衡性相关的因素。
使用先前验证过的工具，对1996年至2000年间报道24项基因发现的228篇媒体报道的准确性、平衡性和完整性进行分析。
尽管报道通常准确，但其中仅有45.5±13.8%（均值±标准差）的相关内容。电视报道以及关于罕见病基因发现的报道完整性最差。非美国英语报纸的报道比美国报纸的报道每个单词包含更多的内容项。平衡性较差的报道夸大了发现的益处，忽视了可能的风险，且未呈现一系列专家意见。科学家有时是夸大内容的来源。
为提高关于基因发现的媒体报道质量，报道应包含更多相关内容，并由擅长科学写作的记者撰写。科学家必须抵制夸大的倾向。这些结论可能也适用于其他发现的媒体报道。
