How do journalists act as watchdogs of science? New qualitative research led by University of Amsterdam media scholar Alice Fleerackers sheds light on the labor-intensive nature of watchdog science journalism, a form of critical journalism that scrutinizes science. It shows that practical feasibility sometimes takes precedence over public interest when deciding whether to run a story, particularly in newsrooms with limited resources. The findings, recently published in Science Communication, underscore the precarity of a form of journalism that is essential for public trust in science yet operates under severe pressure.
Watchdog science journalism: Crucial yet precarious work, according to study
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Turning people into frogs—and back into princes—is the stuff of fairy tales. But back in January 2026, this fate befell a Heber City, Utah, police officer when AI accidentally cast the spell. Transcription software picked [...]
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The Center for the Creator Economy at Syracuse University—the nation’s first academic center dedicated to the advancement of interdisciplinary academics, independent research, policy engagement and support for creator-based ventures—today released the findings from its inaugural [...]
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A new study led by Flinders University finds both autistic and nonautistic suspects may be judged more harshly if any idiosyncratic behaviors in interviews stray beyond what observers consider normal. The research also undermines the [...]
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How can AI provide police officers with better support in complex situations? In an interdisciplinary collaboration, researchers in police research and computing science at Umeå University have explored the opportunities and risks associated with using [...]
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The University of Virginia has published the Global Capitalism Index (GCI), a first-in-kind data set offering unprecedented insights into the globe’s capitalism conditions in every country. Assembled from more than two hundred data sets across [...]
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Most Michigan city and township officials report positive or neutral impacts from recent state election administration reforms, but many cite the costs and staffing demands associated with nine days of early in-person voting as a [...]
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Most voters see Congress through floor debates, campaign promises and partisan conflict. Yet about half the work done by the average congressional office involves helping constituents, businesses, nonprofits, universities and local governments navigate federal agencies.This [...]
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Public health strategies that helped reduce cigarette smoking in the United States could provide a model for reducing the appeal and use of firearms, particularly handguns, according to a new paper from the Annenberg Public [...]
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Adding LED lights to illuminate crime hot spots throughout the city of Newark reduced violent crime by nearly 46% and burglaries by 58%, according to new research from Rutgers University–Newark published in the Journal of [...]
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Artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever to create convincing fake political content and harder to tell what’s real. Now, a University of Missouri expert is helping voters navigate that changing information landscape ahead [...]
