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Some Possibilities for Enriching Journalistic Narratives about Science and Technology Based onPress Releases

Abstract

This study examines how press releases (PRs) are used and how they could
be improved during the journalistic production process. A sample of 322
PRs published in the EurekAlert! repository was examined through content
analysis, complemented by a sociotechnical approach and observation of
journalistic production practices. The findings indicate that churnalism (the
full or partial reproduction of the original text) is prevalent: one in four PRs was
reproduced ipsis litteris (verbatim), one in two underwent minor alterations,
and one in five received complementary additions that increased its journalistic
value. The analysis reveals an inverse relationship between the laboriousness
of a strategy and its frequency of use. This is evidenced by the less frequent
application of more demanding techniques, such as: interviewing researchers not directly involved in the reported work, citing caveats,
or warning that results announced at conferences are
merely abstracts of ongoing studies. Expanding upon these
results, the theoretical and practical framework suggests
nine possibilities for enriching journalistic stories based on
PRs. These possibilities emphasize the inclusion of actors
beyond those directly involved in the research, highlighting
their connections and the uncertainties regarding the results
and the continuation of the scientific work.