IC1: Why does false balance distort public debates?

Show notes

In this inaugural episode of Inconvenient Chats, we delve into the concept of false balance in science communication, particularly in the context of climate change. We discuss how false balance misrepresents scientific consensus potentially leading to inaction. We explore the implications of false balance on democracy and the trust in institutions.

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Sources - Beyond false balance: How interpretive journalism shapes media coverage of climate change (Global Environmental Change, Jan 2017)

• Can Journalistic “False Balance” Distort Public Perception of Consensus in Expert Opinion? (Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, Jan 2016)
• When Fairness is Flawed: Effects of False Balance Reporting and Weight-of-Evidence Statements on Beliefs and Perceptions of Climate Change (American Psychological Association Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, Dec 2021)
• BBC Editorial Guidelines: 2 Impartiality (2025)