Medical Writing Writing for Lay Audiences Medical journalism: Another way to write about science

Volume 24, Issue 4 - Writing for Lay Audiences

Medical journalism: Another way to write about science

Author: Jo Whelan

Abstract

True journalism differs from public relations and uncritically reproducing press releases. It involves doing background research into the context surrounding the finding being reported, seeking comments from independent experts, and highlighting the negative as well as positive aspects. In this article, I pull together information for medical writers interested in journalism or science writing.

Keywords: Medical journalism, Medical writing, Science writing, Public relations
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References

  1. Whelan J. Medical journalism – a career move? The Write Stuff 21:23–25.
  2. Wikipedia. Medical journalism; 2015 [cited 21 August 2015]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_journalism
  3. Introduction to Public Relations. Institute of Public Relations. Available from: http://www.ipr.org.uk/
  4. Levi R. Medical Journalism: Exposing Fact, Fiction, Fraud. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell; 2001.
  5. Medical Journalists Association. Available from: http://www.mjauk.org/about/
  6. Association of British Science Writers. Science writing: the basics. Association of British Science Writers; 2015 [cited 21 August 2015]. Available from: http://www.absw.org.uk/files/SYWTBASW_PDF_MB1_1.pdf

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