- www2.macleans.ca/2011/09/01/the-end-of-hospitals/
- www2.macleans.ca/2011/11/17/insite-too-early-to-tell-it-works/
- www2.macleans.ca/2011/11/09/the-oprah-effect-and-why-not-all-scientific-evidence-is-valuable/
- www2.macleans.ca/2011/12/30/this-years-most-outrageous-attacks-on-science/
Provide names of other journalists involved.
Julia Belluz
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
December 30, 2011; November 17, 2011; November 9, 2011; September 1, 2011
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Science-ish is a health-focused fact-checking and myth-busting blog focused on evidence. Each week on Science-ish, I unpack the best-available evidence behind statements in the health-related headlines–and hold politicians, opinion leaders, and journalists to account. The modest aim? To improve health reporting, and the quality of information about the health-related issues of the day. The entries I submitted include the following: a Nov. 17 blog post about the evidence behind a safe-injection site in Vancouver and harm-reduction strategies in the ‘war on drugs’, the evidence for home care versus hospital care (Sept .1), a how-to for readers about appraising and understanding different types of scientific evidence (Nov. 9), and a year-in-review about the most outrageous attacks on science in 2011 (Dec. 30).
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
The highest quality scientific evidence–mainly systematic reviews from the Cochrane library and other high-quality scientific studies published in journals.
Explain types of human sources used.
Scientists and physicians from around the world.
Results:
The blog has led to conversations with politicians about how evidence informs their policies, invitations to speak at scientific conferences and universities about evidence in journalism and health reporting, as well as a more informed and discerning health readership.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
No.