Expert in risk communication. Research and Editorial Officer of the initiative Risk know-how at Sense about Science. Previously, researcher and communicator at the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at the University of Cambridge (UK). Founder and co-creator of the health podcast Pan Pal Susto, winner of the National Journalism Award of Mexico 2023 in the category of scientific and cultural journalism. Member of the advisory committee of SMC Spain.
This guide is designed for journalists who cover stories about risks in any sector: health, environment, artificial intelligence etc. You will identify the concepts that will help you explain, for example, why false flood alarms occur, the pros and cons of installing a nuclear plant in a certain area, or the uncertainty of a study that finds a particular diet increases the risk of developing cancer.
The risk of an adverse reaction to a vaccine and the risk of not evacuating a flood-prone area have something in common: both are risks, though very different ones. While one refers to a numerical probability, the other refers to a potential consequence. Here, we explore six different meanings of the word “risk” in headlines. These examples will help you explain risks more clearly, or demand that clarity from others.
Studies on risks, especially those related to health, generate headlines because they are of concern to the public. A good understanding of risk is crucial for making decisions such as getting vaccinated, taking care of one's diet, choosing a contraceptive method or changing consumer habits. However, it is difficult: it is a statistical concept that is often identified with danger and provokes feelings, so its perception is subjective. This guide, accompanied by an infographic, brings together seven recommendations for risk information from the expert María del Carmen Climént.
A study published today in The Lancet claims that there are no benefits to alcohol consumption for young people between the ages of 15 and 39. However, the authors claim that in adults over the age of 40 consuming a small amount may confer some health benefits.
Communicating outbreaks of infectious diseases is not easy, especially when they affect population groups that may face discrimination. Cases of monkeypox among men who have sex with men remind us of the importance of reporting without stigma.
"The level of alcohol consumption that does not harm health is zero," says a review of dozens of studies conducted in recent years on the effect of light drinking. The 20 or so authors of the paper, and other experts, insist that "alcohol is carcinogenic from the first drink". In their view, this message should be conveyed more clearly to the public.