Trusting science leaves people vulnerable to believing pseudoscience, new research finds
Knowledge of research methods can help the public discern valid scientific claims from false or misleading ones, researchers explain.
Misinformation
Research roundups, tip sheets, articles and explainers about the widespread problem of misinformation and disinformation in the media
Expert Commentary
Academic journals, journalists perpetuate misinformation in their handling of research retractions, a new study finds
Journals can take months to years to retract unreliable research. Journalists often fail to tell the public when scientific discoveries later are determined invalid or fraudulent, a new paper reveals. PLUS: 4 tips for tracking flawed research.
Expert Commentary
Why do Americans share so much fake news? One big reason is they aren’t paying attention, new research suggests
Americans who share fake news on social media might not lack media literacy skills. Chances are they don’t stop to check accuracy, a new study suggests.
Expert Commentary
Covering pro-Trump rallies and far-right groups: 4 tips from disinformation scholar Joan Donovan
There are several things she says journalists can do to minimize harm and keep rumors, lies and other forms of bad information out of their coverage. Here are four of them.
Expert Commentary
A tale of two pandemics: A nonfiction comic about historical racial health disparities
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University delved into racial health disparities during the 1918 influenza pandemic — and what history can teach us about how to approach the current pandemic.
Expert Commentary
Election Beat 2020: How news outlets become misinformation superspreaders
How could America’s news outlets, which claim to be guardians of the truth, be a prime source of untruth?
The answer lies in journalists’ routines and their need to attract an audience.
Expert Commentary
Crowdsourcing truth and how journalists can avoid spreading coronavirus misinformation: Q and A with MIT professor David Rand
MIT professor David Rand helps social media users get a grip on the vast ecosystem of coronavirus misinformation — and offers advice for how journalists can avoid being part of the problem.
Expert Commentary
Covering COVID-19 and the coronavirus: 5 tips from a Harvard epidemiology professor
William Hanage, an associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard, offers journalists guidance on covering the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Expert Commentary
Fake news and fact-checking: 7 studies you should know about
We spotlight seven research studies published in 2019 that examine fake news from multiple angles, including what makes fact-checking most effective.
Expert Commentary
Misinformation: 3 tips to help journalists avoid being part of the problem
News media scholar Thomas Patterson offers three tips to help journalists avoid being part of the misinformation problem.
Expert Commentary