Scientists Vs. Journalists: Mouse Study
TODAY’S CONTENDERS
Gary Arendash, PhD, of the University of South Florida in Tampa, and colleagues
VS.
National Geographic News ( by Ker Than)
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I study both journalism and biology and I've come to realize just how different subjects and ideas are addressed in those fields.
Scientists and journalists should really be best friends. After all, scientists often labor over writing grants, trying to convince people that their research is relevant and interesting so it will be funded. Journalists are trying to find a story that is relevant and interesting... even if its not, they will try and prove that it is.
The problem arises when these two very different people try to communicate. They speak different languages.
For example, Gary Arendash, PhD, and Ker Than (Nat'l Geo) have very different ideas of appropriate headlines for their articles.
Electromagnetic Field Treatment Protects Against and Reverses Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer’s Disease Mice
VS.
Cell Phone Use May Fight Alzheimer’s, Mouse Study Says
This study caught the attention of many media outlets in early January this year and was pretty controversial considering previous cellphone-based science news in the media usually explores the possible negative effects of cellphones.
Why the disparity in titles?
Scientists are sticklers for facts. So are journalists, but a scientist can use however many words he or she wants to to define every concept, method or result. A journalist not only has to make that long sounding title interesting and relevant, they are also limited in how many words they can use.
The Proof? Arendash’s article ran 19 pages in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Than’s article clocks in at a mere 700 words.
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I sometimes wonder what scientists think when journalists try to translate their jargon into something that can be read by the general public. I admit I snickered a tad to think of their reaction to the simplistic distillation of all that serious research to "mouse study."
Then I read Arendash's abstract and came across this line:
Although caution should be taken in extrapolating these mouse studies to humans, we conclude that EMF exposure may represent a non-invasive, non-pharmacologic therapeutic against Alzheimer’s disease and an effective memory-enhancing approach in general.
Never mind.
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P.S When I run out of inspiration and relevant public domain images and am operating on lack of sleep, I resort to lame mouse-like emoticons…. my apologies for any detrimental effects this has on my readers.

Kallen is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Journalism at the University of Oregon and, of course, writing a blog.