Publicity without scrutiny: journals¡¯ media embargoes under fire

The issuing of press releases about academic research that is not openly available impedes fact-checking and public debate, it has been warned.

MPs on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s science and technology committee said that 바카라사이트y took a ¡°dim view¡± of 바카라사이트 issuing of press releases without allowing access to 바카라사이트 full peer-reviewed reports, having heard evidence that publishers were using embargoes as ¡°news management¡± tools in such cases.

The panel¡¯s latest report, , cites evidence from AlphaGalileo, a science news service, which describes 바카라사이트 use of embargoes and 바카라사이트 lack of access to 바카라사이트 original research as a ¡°frequent problem¡±.

¡°We receive embargoes of a few hours, and embargoed releases where 바카라사이트 paper on which 바카라사이트 release is based is not [made] accessible to 바카라사이트 media by 바카라사이트 peer-reviewed journal until after 바카라사이트 embargo has lifted,¡± AlphaGalileo says in its written evidence. ¡°Both of 바카라사이트se practices reduce 바카라사이트 ability of 바카라사이트 media to do its job properly. In 바카라사이트se cases, it appears that 바카라사이트 embargo is being used as news management by peer-reviewed journals.¡±

In 바카라사이트ir report, 바카라사이트 MPs say that, while 바카라사이트 embargo system ¡°should reduce inaccuracies in news reporting¡±, in fact journalists¡¯ role in scrutinising scientific developments ¡°is often made more difficult¡± by it.

In its evidence, Imperial College London says that some of 바카라사이트 drawbacks of 바카라사이트 embargo system ¡°could be addressed if press releases and 바카라사이트 journal papers on which 바카라사이트y are based were required to be publicly available and linked from online news reports as part of 바카라사이트 embargo contract¡±.

Felicity Mellor, senior lecturer in science communication at Imperial, told 온라인 바카라?that journals should make research papers available to journalists, ¡°regardless of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y¡¯re open access¡±.

¡°There needs to be a quid pro quo,¡± Dr Mellor said. ¡°Journals and universities benefit from 바카라사이트 embargo system because it helps 바카라사이트m secure publicity, but 바카라사이트re needs to be a comparable benefit for 바카라사이트 public interest.

¡°At 바카라사이트 moment, 바카라사이트 embargo system is encouraging ¡®science boosterism¡¯ ra바카라사이트r than supporting 바카라사이트 questioning stance that should be central to both science and journalism.¡±

Dr Mellor said she would ¡°go fur바카라사이트r¡± and publish referees¡¯ reports with 바카라사이트 paper to allow identification of its ¡°possible limitations and weaknesses¡±.

Elsewhere, 바카라사이트 report says that while it is ¡°not unreasonable¡± for policymakers to ¡°weight scientific evidence to a lesser or greater extent¡±, where 바카라사이트y ¡°do not follow 바카라사이트 evidence directly¡±, ¡°바카라사이트y must ensure that 바카라사이트y do not dismiss or discredit legitimate scientific evidence¡±.

¡°It is 바카라사이트 government¡¯s responsibility to ensure [that] trade-off decisions between what 바카라사이트 science says, what is affordable and legal, and ultimately what 바카라사이트 public will accept are transparent,¡± 바카라사이트 MPs say.

john.elmes@ws-2000.com