Scientist: Petroc Sumner

Petroc Sumner profilePetroc Sumner is psychologist and co-director of the InSciOut science in the media project. This project – a collaboration between scientists, press officers and journalism academics – has published 9 studies on where exaggerations occur, how readers interpret the strength of causal phrases and related topics, culminating in a real-world trial investigating the effects on news of headline phrasing and caveats in actual press releases.

News reporter or TV journalist at press conference, holding microphone and writing notes

Why hype in press releases is ineffective – and how to fix it?

Press releases sometimes exaggerate scientific findings and omit study limitations. Scientists are investigating why, and testing ways to make them more accurate.

ESMH Petroc Sumner interview: News reporter or TV journalist at press conference, holding microphone and writing notes

A scientist’s opinion: interview with Petroc Sumner on hype in press releases

Interview with Petroc Sumner, psychologist and co-director of the InSciOut project on science in the media. What do we know about how the quality of press releases influences news stories? Petroc Sumner: There is a strong correlation between the quality of press releases and the quality of the news stories that are based on them. Whether ...