“Myth is truth (p < .05)”

This entry is part 1 of 5 in the series Science "Journalism"

Here’s today’s Language Log’s explanation for why science journalism is often so weak, as they have noted several times there (and I’ve mentioned more than once). …Science journalism is generally simpler, since the scientific equivalents of political parties are usually too diffuse and too weak to call a publication effectively to account for unfairness. In …

December 23, 2007 – 5:49 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Origins and Science | Comments Off

“The functional neuroanatomy of science journalism”

This entry is part 2 of 5 in the series Science "Journalism"

Language Log takes frequent note of strange things science journalists say. Their most recent is about the neuroscience of mothers watching children in distress. Here is part of what LL’s Mark Liberman’s had to say: It’s rhetorically interesting that Ms. Parker-Pope takes the existence of brain differences observed by fMRI as evidence that the reactions …

March 13, 2008 – 6:02 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Origins and Science | Tagged , , | Comments (196)

“Gay or straight, it’s decided at birth”

This entry is part 3 of 5 in the series Science "Journalism"

As a writer, I often enjoy Language Log simply for what I learn there about language, whether it’s connected to topics I’m involved with or not. Once in a while, though, they focus on one of my hot buttons: science journalism. On their blog they call it “The Language of Science,” on ways that science …

June 26, 2008 – 2:58 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices, Origins and Science | Tagged , | Comments Off

Homosexual behavior due to … ?

This entry is part 4 of 5 in the series Science "Journalism"

EurekAlert does it again! Would someone please explain to me how this article merits this headline??? Homosexual behavior due to genetics and environmental factors

June 30, 2008 – 3:26 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices, Origins and Science | Comments (10)

“New Scientist Needs a Reality Check”

This entry is part 5 of 5 in the series Science "Journalism"

Ah, science journalism! While this [New Scientist report] makes for an interesting, Alice – through – the – Looking – Glass foray into utter nonsense, the falsehoods and misinformation presented as historical fact need correcting. [Link: Evolution News & Views: New Scientist Needs a Reality Check] Do please look into the facts on this, and …

July 11, 2008 – 3:40 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in The Faith | Tagged | Comments Off