TY - JOUR T1 - Sensational media reporting is common when describing COVID-19 therapies, detection methods, and vaccines JF - Journal of Investigative Medicine JO - J Investig Med SP - 1256 LP - 1257 DO - 10.1136/jim-2020-001760 VL - 69 IS - 6 AU - Ryan Ottwell AU - Madison Puckett AU - Taylor Rogers AU - Savannah Nicks AU - Matt Vassar Y1 - 2021/08/01 UR - http://hw-f5-jim.highwire.org/content/69/6/1256.abstract N2 - Word choice is important when describing medical therapies, especially during COVID-19 outbreaks. The public relies on news media for health information and medical misinformation is often spread through news stories.1 Medical misinformation can affect health outcomes and polarize the public’s distrust in medical science.2 During a pandemic, the public’s trust in science and medical professionals is crucial. Thus, one would question the ethical responsibility of journalists, public officials, and others when using exaggerated language like game changers in describing COVID-19 therapies when only preliminary data are available.3 We evaluated the use of 11 prespecified terms used in news stories for exaggeration. We evaluated whether each new outlet was Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct (HONcode) certified—the oldest and most reliable indicator of credible, trustworthy, online health information. … ER -