Misinformation in the Media: Global Coverage of GMOs 2019-2021
Author Information
Author(s): M. Lynas, J. Adams, J. Conrow
Primary Institution: The Alliance for Science, The Boyce Thompson Institute
Hypothesis
What is the extent of misinformation about GMOs in mainstream and online news media?
Conclusion
Misinformation about GMOs in the mainstream media is still a significant problem, with a falsehood rate of 9%.
Supporting Evidence
- 9% of articles on GMOs contained misinformation.
- Articles with misinformation had a potential readership of 256 million.
- 100% of misinformation was characterized as negative, mixed, or neutral.
Takeaway
This study found that a lot of news about genetically modified foods is wrong, and it can confuse people about their safety.
Methodology
The study analyzed 535 articles from top English-language media over a two-year period, categorizing them for misinformation and sentiment.
Potential Biases
The study may be biased towards highlighting misinformation in African media due to intentional selection.
Limitations
The study focused on English-language media and may not represent global coverage accurately.
Participant Demographics
The analysis included articles from various regions, with a focus on North America and Africa.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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