Frequent tropes of health and science news

Like other genres and sub-genres, health and science news has standard tropes that are used by journalists and expected by audiences. These can have an impact on the accuracy and reliability of coverage.

Health and science journalism norms and practices

Health and science reporting is influenced both by economic norms (the conditions and constraints in which journalists do their jobs) and journalistic norms, such as objectivity and balance.[1] Both of these have an impact on how reporting on these topics is done.

Best practices in health and science journalism

The following best practices guide journalists in navigating the pitfalls of exaggeration, inadequate vetting and biased framing inherent in modern news production.

Audio Media: Introduction 

Audio media, such as music and podcasts, share the power to communicate deeply and personally with listeners, often using sound and words to tell stories and set moods. Both forms have been fundamentally changed by digital technology, which has made content abundant and accessible, mainly through mobile devices and streaming. These digital changes mean that algorithms and platform rules are now major forces in deciding what listeners discover and consume. 

Managing media with teens

While they’re not going through as much development as tweens, moving to high school at the beginning of this stage – and moving out of it at the end – can be stressful.

Managing media with tweens (10-13 years old)

Helping Kids Build Safe and Smart Digital Habits

There are four main strategies to help kids become resilient to online risks. We can:

Curate our kids’ media experiences;

Control who can access our kids and their data;

Co-view media with our kids;

and be our kids’ media Coaches.

Managing media in early childhood (birth to 5 years old)

Helping Young Kids Explore Media Safely

Starting around age two, children can begin to explore media. The goal is to build healthy, guided habits.

There are four main strategies to help kids do that. We can:

Curate our kids’ media experiences;

Control who can access our kids and their data;

Co-view media with our kids;

and be our kids’ media Coaches.

Managing media at every age: Tips for parents and caregivers 

Kids’ digital habits evolve as they grow and supporting them means understanding what they need at each stage. These four age-specific tip sheets offer practical, research-informed guidance to help families navigate media use from early childhood through the teen years. 

Each tip sheet is built around four core digital parenting strategies: Curate what kids see, Control who can access them and their data, Co-view and discuss media together and Coach them as they develop resilience, independence and healthy habits. 

Managing media in middle childhood (6-9 years old)

Helping Kids Build Safe and Smart Digital Habits

Parents can focus on helping kids this age explore safely by choosing high-quality experiences, setting clear boundaries, and teaching them how to recognize when something feels off.

There are four main strategies to help kids become resilient to online risks. We can:

Curate our kids’ media experiences;

Control who can access our kids and their data;

Co-view media with our kids;

and be our kids’ media Coaches.

How Music Communicates Meaning

Understanding how music communicates requires looking at multiple layers: the lyrics, the sound itself, accompanying visuals (like music videos), and the broader cultural and historical context.