Australia's Science Reporters; who ? - DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate

**beethyday** · 08-28-2012, 10:15 PM

I'd nominate some ABC people and Graeme O'Neil ... there's pne less today.

From Bad day for #science #reporting in Australia. Leigh Dayton's job made redundant @australian Via @scienceinpublic
Retweeted by Dr Rachael Dunlop

and also from From @scienceinpublic

"Niall is creative director at Science in Public in Melbourne - helping scientists translate their work into stories and headlines

Melbourne, Australia · http://www.scienceinpublic.com.au "

Niall's confirming tweets in response to disbelieving enquiries.

1

@Colvinius Yes. I spoke with Leigh half an hour ago. She was called in yesterday and told her position was redundant. Niall
View conversation

2
To be precise, they've made Leigh's role as science reporter redundant. No place for science at our national paper? @australian

3

The Australian has made Leigh Dayton redundant. One of Australia's most experienced science writers, she finished yesterday. @australian

**Darlmtgq** · 08-28-2012, 11:14 PM

I noticed a while back that science articles in The Advertiser were nominally by the "lifestyle reporter".

**Extipletape** · 08-28-2012, 11:17 PM

It would be sad to see science news that only comes through PR agencies.

**elapicearpisp** · 08-28-2012, 11:23 PM

It would be sad to see science news that only comes through PR agencies.

Even worse to see it all through PR agencies via BC...

**AntonioXYZ** · 08-28-2012, 11:32 PM

It would be sad to see science news that only comes through PR agencies.

A LOT of the science news that is filtering through the interwebs at the moment has a heavy PR content...

Or moreover, PR agencies are using unsuspecting news outlets and journos as a means to publish press releases under the guise of 'news'...

**Relsenlilky** · 08-28-2012, 11:32 PM

Even worse to see it all through PR agencies via BC...

economics is also a science// Ja?

**Fuerfsanv** · 08-28-2012, 11:34 PM

economics is also a science// Ja?

Nay, black magic.

**DownloadMan** · 08-28-2012, 11:37 PM

A LOT of the science news that is filtering through the interwebs at the moment has a heavy PR content...

Or moreover, PR agencies are using unsuspecting news outlets and journos as a means to publish press releases under the guise of 'news'...

A lot of regular news as well... There's not a lot of interesting things that happen every minute of every day so they scramble for anything to write.

**OixKKcj1** · 08-28-2012, 11:43 PM

A lot of regular news as well... There's not a lot of interesting things that happen every minute of every day so they scramble for anything to write.

A friend emailed me with a news comment from the police patrol section of his local rag..
Regular patrol spotted two youths acting suspiciously in Elizabeth Park.. One was swallowing firecrackers, the other battery acid// Police charged one and let the other off.

**eskimosik** · 08-28-2012, 11:43 PM

A LOT of the science news that is filtering through the interwebs at the moment has a heavy PR content...

Or moreover, PR agencies are using unsuspecting news outlets and journos as a means to publish press releases under the guise of 'news'...

it's a horse/cart issue as you write your own press release to go into the media as the reporters have no idea of what you are talking about so get it wrong, and the reporters have no idea what you are talking about because they just rehash press releases...

and if you are writing a press release you are either appealing for more funding or have been rejected by the good journals...

**xFZ3k8Mw** · 08-28-2012, 11:47 PM

>>I noticed a while back that science articles in The Advertiser were nominally by the "lifestyle reporter"

Can you remember the name? They had a journo at one stage who had a science background (I did some work for her year ago, as well as for her science academic dad)...perhaps they had her doing the lifestyle stuff instead of science...?

**tramdoctorsss** · 08-29-2012, 01:14 AM

A LOT of the science news that is filtering through the interwebs at the moment has a heavy PR content...

Or moreover, PR agencies are using unsuspecting news outlets and journos as a means to publish press releases under the guise of 'news'...

There is a lot of that going on and many of the real science sites are releasing puff pieces along with the real "news". Pays to find a variety of sources for a story and look for the bylines - Who wrote the article? Is it a recognised name/organisation? etc. Basic stuff. It really isn't safe to rely on just one outlet for "news" even if they were reliable in the past.

Any unattributed articles are likely to be PR or, even worse, "reputation management"

**Virosponna** · 08-29-2012, 03:59 AM

...real science sites are releasing puff pieces.... a nice victorian term that sums up the type admirably.

**romalama** · 08-29-2012, 04:14 AM

a nice victorian term that sums up the type admirably.

I had to look up the term, despite being almost Victorian, then realised I knew "puffery" well, from my childhood.

**11Woxsepmoomo** · 08-29-2012, 04:16 AM

Puffery
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Puffery as a legal term refers to promotional statements and claims that express subjective rather than objective views, which no "reasonable person" would take literally.[1] Puffery serves to "puff up" an exaggerated image of what is being described and is especially featured in testimonials."

**offinoNem** · 08-29-2012, 04:19 AM

puff
O.E. pyffian "an act of puffing," of imitative origin. Used of small swellings and round protuberances since 1530s. Meaning "type of light pastry" is recorded from early 15c.; that of "small pad for applying powder to skin or hair" is from 1650s. Figurative sense of "flattery, inflated praise" is first recorded 1732. Puff-ball, type of fungus, is from 1640s; puffer, type of fish, is from 1814.

mmmmmmm puff pastry.

:-)

**BronUVT** · 08-29-2012, 04:25 AM

puff
O.E. pyffian "an act of puffing," of imitative origin. Used of small swellings and round protuberances since 1530s. Meaning "type of light pastry" is recorded from early 15c.; that of "small pad for applying powder to skin or hair" is from 1650s. Figurative sense of "flattery, inflated praise" is first recorded 1732. Puff-ball, type of fungus, is from 1640s; puffer, type of fish, is from 1814.

mmmmmmm puff pastry.

:-)

After reading "puffery"'s legal origins I wonder why it isn't still used for prosecutions

**alskdjreyfd** · 08-29-2012, 05:04 AM

After reading "puffery"'s legal origins I wonder why it isn't still used for prosecutions

What a good idea

I think I was using the term in this sense

It is something that really annoys me, particularly when it's related to health and medicine and makes it to the main evening news etc. etc.

**bpejjssoe** · 08-30-2012, 12:02 AM

From Deborah Smith ‏@DebSmithSMH

Sad day.

My 20 year career at SMH ends on Friday but the Herald's great tradition of science writing will continue with

@NickySMH
Nicky Phillips

Science reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald

Sydney · http://www.smh.com.au

08-28-2012, 10:15 PM	#1
beethyday Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 497 Senior Member	Australia's Science Reporters; who ? I'd nominate some ABC people and Graeme O'Neil ... there's pne less today. From Bad day for #science #reporting in Australia. Leigh Dayton's job made redundant @australian Via @scienceinpublic Retweeted by Dr Rachael Dunlop and also from From @scienceinpublic "Niall is creative director at Science in Public in Melbourne - helping scientists translate their work into stories and headlines Melbourne, Australia · http://www.scienceinpublic.com.au " Niall's confirming tweets in response to disbelieving enquiries. 1 @Colvinius Yes. I spoke with Leigh half an hour ago. She was called in yesterday and told her position was redundant. Niall View conversation 2 To be precise, they've made Leigh's role as science reporter redundant. No place for science at our national paper? @australian 3 The Australian has made Leigh Dayton redundant. One of Australia's most experienced science writers, she finished yesterday. @australian Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-28-2012, 11:14 PM	#2
Darlmtgq Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 485 Senior Member	I noticed a while back that science articles in The Advertiser were nominally by the "lifestyle reporter". Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-28-2012, 11:17 PM	#3
Extipletape Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 397 Senior Member	It would be sad to see science news that only comes through PR agencies. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-28-2012, 11:23 PM	#4
elapicearpisp Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 417 Senior Member	It would be sad to see science news that only comes through PR agencies. Even worse to see it all through PR agencies via BC... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-28-2012, 11:32 PM	#5
AntonioXYZ Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 425 Senior Member	It would be sad to see science news that only comes through PR agencies. A LOT of the science news that is filtering through the interwebs at the moment has a heavy PR content... Or moreover, PR agencies are using unsuspecting news outlets and journos as a means to publish press releases under the guise of 'news'... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-28-2012, 11:32 PM	#6
Relsenlilky Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 465 Senior Member	Even worse to see it all through PR agencies via BC... economics is also a science// Ja? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-28-2012, 11:34 PM	#7
Fuerfsanv Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 386 Senior Member	economics is also a science// Ja? Nay, black magic. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-28-2012, 11:37 PM	#8
DownloadMan Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 633 Senior Member	A LOT of the science news that is filtering through the interwebs at the moment has a heavy PR content... Or moreover, PR agencies are using unsuspecting news outlets and journos as a means to publish press releases under the guise of 'news'... A lot of regular news as well... There's not a lot of interesting things that happen every minute of every day so they scramble for anything to write. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-28-2012, 11:43 PM	#9
OixKKcj1 Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 393 Senior Member	A lot of regular news as well... There's not a lot of interesting things that happen every minute of every day so they scramble for anything to write. A friend emailed me with a news comment from the police patrol section of his local rag.. Regular patrol spotted two youths acting suspiciously in Elizabeth Park.. One was swallowing firecrackers, the other battery acid// Police charged one and let the other off. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-28-2012, 11:43 PM	#10
eskimosik Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 478 Senior Member	A LOT of the science news that is filtering through the interwebs at the moment has a heavy PR content... Or moreover, PR agencies are using unsuspecting news outlets and journos as a means to publish press releases under the guise of 'news'... it's a horse/cart issue as you write your own press release to go into the media as the reporters have no idea of what you are talking about so get it wrong, and the reporters have no idea what you are talking about because they just rehash press releases... and if you are writing a press release you are either appealing for more funding or have been rejected by the good journals... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-28-2012, 11:47 PM	#11
xFZ3k8Mw Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 462 Senior Member	>>I noticed a while back that science articles in The Advertiser were nominally by the "lifestyle reporter" Can you remember the name? They had a journo at one stage who had a science background (I did some work for her year ago, as well as for her science academic dad)...perhaps they had her doing the lifestyle stuff instead of science...? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-29-2012, 01:14 AM	#12
tramdoctorsss Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 619 Senior Member	A LOT of the science news that is filtering through the interwebs at the moment has a heavy PR content... Or moreover, PR agencies are using unsuspecting news outlets and journos as a means to publish press releases under the guise of 'news'... There is a lot of that going on and many of the real science sites are releasing puff pieces along with the real "news". Pays to find a variety of sources for a story and look for the bylines - Who wrote the article? Is it a recognised name/organisation? etc. Basic stuff. It really isn't safe to rely on just one outlet for "news" even if they were reliable in the past. Any unattributed articles are likely to be PR or, even worse, "reputation management" Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-29-2012, 03:59 AM	#13
Virosponna Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 459 Senior Member	...real science sites are releasing puff pieces.... a nice victorian term that sums up the type admirably. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-29-2012, 04:14 AM	#14
romalama Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 400 Senior Member	a nice victorian term that sums up the type admirably. I had to look up the term, despite being almost Victorian, then realised I knew "puffery" well, from my childhood. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-29-2012, 04:16 AM	#15
11Woxsepmoomo Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 504 Senior Member	Puffery From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Puffery as a legal term refers to promotional statements and claims that express subjective rather than objective views, which no "reasonable person" would take literally.[1] Puffery serves to "puff up" an exaggerated image of what is being described and is especially featured in testimonials." Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

08-29-2012, 04:19 AM	#16
offinoNem Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 445 Senior Member	puff O.E. pyffian "an act of puffing," of imitative origin. Used of small swellings and round protuberances since 1530s. Meaning "type of light pastry" is recorded from early 15c.; that of "small pad for applying powder to skin or hair" is from 1650s. Figurative sense of "flattery, inflated praise" is first recorded 1732. Puff-ball, type of fungus, is from 1640s; puffer, type of fish, is from 1814. mmmmmmm puff pastry. :-) Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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08-29-2012, 04:25 AM	#17
BronUVT Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 556 Senior Member	puff O.E. pyffian "an act of puffing," of imitative origin. Used of small swellings and round protuberances since 1530s. Meaning "type of light pastry" is recorded from early 15c.; that of "small pad for applying powder to skin or hair" is from 1650s. Figurative sense of "flattery, inflated praise" is first recorded 1732. Puff-ball, type of fungus, is from 1640s; puffer, type of fish, is from 1814. mmmmmmm puff pastry. :-) After reading "puffery"'s legal origins I wonder why it isn't still used for prosecutions Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-29-2012, 05:04 AM	#18
alskdjreyfd Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 481 Senior Member	After reading "puffery"'s legal origins I wonder why it isn't still used for prosecutions What a good idea I think I was using the term in this sense It is something that really annoys me, particularly when it's related to health and medicine and makes it to the main evening news etc. etc. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-30-2012, 12:02 AM	#19
bpejjssoe Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 498 Senior Member	From Deborah Smith ‏@DebSmithSMH Sad day. My 20 year career at SMH ends on Friday but the Herald's great tradition of science writing will continue with @NickySMH Nicky Phillips Science reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney · http://www.smh.com.au Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote