Journalists Urged to Uphold Scientific Integrity in Reporting Research Findings

By Christian Ahodie

Journalists have been urged to uphold the integrity of scientific research by adhering strictly to established scientific protocols and principles when reporting research outcomes. The call was made by Associate Professor Abena Yeboah Bani of the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Ghana during a media training workshop held in Accra.

The workshop, organized by the Community-Led Responsive and Effective Urban Health Systems (CHORUS) project, focused on enhancing understanding of urban health and strengthening collaboration between the media and researchers.

Prof. Bani emphasized the need for journalists to avoid misrepresenting or sensationalizing research findings, cautioning that inaccurate reporting can distort public understanding and undermine the work of scientists.

“If a study’s findings are limited to a small population, we must not generalize them to the entire public,” she stressed. “Journalists must understand the scope, limitations, and implications of the studies they report on.”

She encouraged journalists to consult scholarly journals, which she described as credible and rich sources of information. However, she acknowledged the complexity of scientific literature and emphasized the importance of training journalists to interpret and communicate research findings in a simplified, accurate manner for general audiences.

The workshop forms part of CHORUS’s broader efforts to promote effective science communication and build bridges between researchers, journalists, and the public. Delali Kumakpley, Coordinator of the CHORUS project, noted that the initiative is working to enhance urban health systems through evidence-based communication and cross-sector collaboration.

“Our goal is to empower the media with the right tools and knowledge to report on urban health issues responsibly and to amplify the impact of scientific research,” Kumakpley said.

The CHORUS project is a multi-country initiative that seeks to foster community-led, data-informed approaches to improving health systems in urban areas. In Ghana, the project is supporting capacity-building efforts among media professionals to improve public health reporting.

The training concluded with a strong call for continued partnership between the scientific community and the media to ensure that research findings are not only accurate but also meaningful and accessible to the public.