News flash – the media sensationalizes science:

It says irresponsible reporting can undermine public confidence in science and government, and on issues like vaccination may even cost lives.

The think tank blames inaccurate reporting for the scare that led some parents to shun the MMR vaccine . . .

. . . Claudia Wood of the SMF said journalists tend to seek black and white stories and look for certainties which cannot be provided by science.

“The media has to be very aware that what it says can have huge impacts on the public’s behaviour,” she told the BBC.

“I think the media has to be very cautious in how it gives over scientific evidence, and has to make sure that people understand that there are certain risks to some things but a lot of the time evidence isn’t conclusive.”