Leadership 2: Be impeccable with your word

Our words plant seeds in people’s minds that can do great good or cause great harm This is the second of a series about leadership. This skill is difficult to teach. Some of it relies on talent. Leaders aren’t necessarily extroverts. Parents, teachers, bosses all are put into positions of leadership. What can help you […]

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In science journalism, what’s a fact?

Rigorous methods help distinguish pseudoscience from trustworthy information Both scientists and journalists sometimes have the uncomfortable experience of seeing their research and conclusions challenged by startling new information. If you are a true scientist or journalist, you view the new information with an open mind. And then you test it. You attempt to prove it […]

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Is science a match for sensationalism?

Tactics and strategies for engaging the public on climate change, vaccines Scientists have been battling for the hearts and minds of the public for centuries, and not always winning. To avoid being burned at the stake by the Catholic Church for heresy, Galileo had to deny that the earth revolves around the sun, rather than […]

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Reasons for optimism #9: Local news startups

Digital entrepreneurs and philanthropists are collaborating to replace lost coverage Why write about “reasons for optimism” when so much is going wrong in our politics, economy, and environment? Optimism gives us confidence we can make things better. As I like to say, it’s another day of opportunity. The declining quality of local news coverage in […]

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Advertisers avoid media that cover the corona virus

Reputable news sites reporting on the corona virus are being blacklisted by advertisers worried about “brand safety“. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that publishers are losing ad revenue because some advertisers are avoiding any sites that report on the corona virus. This blacklisting occurs even with public-service news or innocuous lifestyle pieces such […]

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How to be more credible, from an investigative reporter

Tina Kaiser. Photo by Gisela Gürtler News organizations have been losing credibility for years, and the reasons are many. Too often, we journalists have been arrogant and said, in effect, Trust us, we know what we’re doing. But today, journalism is under attack, and we have to explain why people should trust us. Versión en […]

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