Health in the news: fact or fiction?
Published: 5 June 2018
Fact v fiction: a debate is being held to examine the media’s role in understanding health issues
Half a glass of wine a day increases the risk of breast cancer; a daily glass of wine could prevent cancer. E-cigarettes help smokers quit and should be on sale in hospital shops; e-cigarettes encourage smoking and are linked to bronchitis and stillbirths.
We are constantly bombarded with contradictory health reports in the media. Can we trust what we read, hear and see in the media? What role do the media play in helping the public to understand health issues? How can scientists communicate their research more clearly? What are journalists looking for in a health story?
A "Question Time" style debate tackling these and related issues, hosted by the Medical Research Council/Chief Scientific Office Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, will take place at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on 14 June, 6-8pm, as part of the MRC Festival of Medical Research.
The audience will have the opportunity to put their questions to a panel of guests from the worlds of journalism, academia and public health advocacy, including Clint Witchalls (The Conversation), Helen Puttick (The Times Scotland), Kevin McKenna (columnist and commentator), Dr Shona Hilton (Deputy Director, MRC/CSO and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow), and Professor Linda Bauld (Professor of Health Policy, University of Stirling). Health journalist and broadcaster Pennie Taylor will chair the free event.
First published: 5 June 2018