• DOI:10.1177/107769908506200415
• Corpus ID: 144093163

Scientific Sources' Perceptions of Network News Accuracy

@article{Moore1985ScientificSP,
  title={Scientific Sources' Perceptions of Network News Accuracy},
  author={Barbara Moore and Michael W. Singletary},
  journal={Journalism \& Mass Communication Quarterly},
  year={1985},
  volume={62},
  pages={816 - 823}
}

• Barbara Moore, Michael W. Singletary
• Published 1 December 1985
• Education
• Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly

Recent polls seem to indicate that many Americans rely on televiSion as a credible and primary sour-6e of news. To test the accuracy of -this news, a study examined three networks' newscasts of science news, the attitudes of the science sources toward repotting _in their field, and the factor related to accuracy. The Vanderbilt News Archives Index was examined to locate science Stories. When a located item was reported on more than one network, only one version was thosen and selection of a network was made on a rotating basis. Transcriptions were.made of the news broadcast audiotapes and mailed,with a questionnaire to the attributed source. The original scientists contacted by reporters were asked whether inaccuracies had occurred in the news report, how the reporter had gathered the data and what the respondents' attitudes were toward network television. The Charnley method of newspaper accuracy assessment was used, with appropriate variations for its application to television, though it was found that sources were difficult to teack down and that transcripts of the broadcasts lacked the visual element that is important in television news coverage. Based on those presumed to have received the questionnaire packets, there was a 56% return rate. Data revealed that nearly half the respondents (48.5%) found the Stories completely accurate, while 14% judged them somewhat 4eaccuraee. Among respondent complaints were lack of air time given A subject, omission of essential details, sensationalism, coniuskig / presentation of facts,' ind misleading editing practices. Although preliminary findings indicate that television bcience neWs is slightly more accurate than newspaper coverage, this finding may be dud to factors like the brevity of television _ stories and printing errors that are beyond a news writer's control. (CHH) A *******&************************************'*************************** Rdproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original docUment. __****************************************6******************************