0336/2021 - Reporting COVID-19 preprints: fast science in newspapers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Brazil Noticiando pré-prints sobre a COVID-19: a ciência rápida em jornais dos Estados Unidos, Reino Unido e Brasil
A pandemia COVID-19 acelerou o ritmo da ciência. Muitos dados científicos são publicados em repositórios de pré-print, antes da revisão por pares, o que levanta questionamentos sobre a credibilidade das informações ainda não validadas por outros cientistas. Neste estudo, analisamos 76 matérias publicadas de janeiro a julho de 2020 por três jornais [The New York Times (EUA), The Guardian (Reino Unido) e Folha de S. Paulo (Brasil)], que tiveram como tema estudos sobre COVID-19 publicados em plataformas de pré-print. O objetivo foi analisar como a mídia cobriu pesquisas não revisadas por pares, em países marcados por discursos conflitantes motivados pelo negacionismo de seus governantes. Os resultados mostram que os jornais não fornecem explicações detalhadas sobre o que é uma plataforma de pré-print, como funciona o processo de publicação de resultados de pesquisas e as implicações de um estudo que ainda não foi revisado por pares. A análise também revela como esses veículos foram guiados pela ansiedade gerada por uma doença desconhecida, com foco em pesquisas sobre testes de medicamentos e soroprevalência. O estudo nos leva a refletir sobre os desafios e fragilidades na cobertura de uma ciência rápida e a necessidade de ampliar a compreensão do público sobre os métodos e processos da ciência.
Palavras-chave:
pré-publicação; jornalismo científico; comunicação e divulgação científica; COVID-19.
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the pace of science. Many scientific data are published on preprint repositories, prior to peer review, which raises questions about the credibility of the information not yet validated by other scientists. In this study, we analysed 76 stories published from January to July 2020 by three newspapers [The New York Times (USA), The Guardian (UK) and Folha de S. Paulo (Brazil)], having as topic studies on COVID-19 published on preprint platforms. The objective was to analyse how the media covered non-peer-reviewed research, in countries marked by conflicting discourses prompted by the denialist attitude of their government leaders. The results show that the newspapers did not provide a detailed explanation of what a preprint platform is, how the process of publishing research results works, and the implications of a study that has not yet been peer reviewed. The analysis also reveals how these news outlets were guided by the anxiety from an unknown disease, focusing on research on drug trials and seroprevalence. The study leads us to reflect on the challenges and weaknesses of covering fast science and the need to broaden the public’s understanding of the methods and processes of science.
Keywords:
preprint; scientific journalism; scientific communication and diffusion; COVID
Noticiando pré-prints sobre a COVID-19: a ciência rápida em jornais dos Estados Unidos, Reino Unido e Brasil
Resumo (abstract):
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the pace of science. Many scientific data are published on preprint repositories, prior to peer review, which raises questions about the credibility of the information not yet validated by other scientists. In this study, we analysed 76 stories published from January to July 2020 by three newspapers [The New York Times (USA), The Guardian (UK) and Folha de S. Paulo (Brazil)], having as topic studies on COVID-19 published on preprint platforms. The objective was to analyse how the media covered non-peer-reviewed research, in countries marked by conflicting discourses prompted by the denialist attitude of their government leaders. The results show that the newspapers did not provide a detailed explanation of what a preprint platform is, how the process of publishing research results works, and the implications of a study that has not yet been peer reviewed. The analysis also reveals how these news outlets were guided by the anxiety from an unknown disease, focusing on research on drug trials and seroprevalence. The study leads us to reflect on the challenges and weaknesses of covering fast science and the need to broaden the public’s understanding of the methods and processes of science.
Palavras-chave (keywords):
preprint; scientific journalism; scientific communication and diffusion; COVID
Massarani, L., Neves, L. F. F.. Reporting COVID-19 preprints: fast science in newspapers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Brazil. Cien Saude Colet [periódico na internet] (2021/nov). [Citado em 22/12/2024].
Está disponível em: http://cienciaesaudecoletiva.com.br/artigos/reporting-covid19-preprints-fast-science-in-newspapers-in-the-united-states-the-united-kingdom-and-brazil/18235?id=18235
