---
title: Media Coverage of Health News
date: 2012-06-01T00:59:52-04:00
author: OBOS Admin
canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/media-coverage-of-health-news"
section: Blog (Archive)
---
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[From the Archives of Our Bodies, Our Blog](/blog)# Media Coverage of Health News

By Rachel Walden • June 1, 2012

Please note: This entry -- originally posted at [Our Bodies, Our Blog](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog) -- has not been updated since the publication date listed above.

If you've ever questioned the accuracy of media coverage of medical news, [Health News Review](http://www.healthnewsreview.org/) is a great go-to resource. The site has excellent resources to help people critically read health news articles and learn what to look for in news reports, which often overstate or misstate the potential impact of the newest test or treatment.  
  
  
  
You can also go to HRN to find reviews, written by the site's medical experts, of specific medical news stories.  
  
  
  
Medical news stories are reviewed for [a number of criteria](http://www.healthnewsreview.org/about-us/review-criteria/), like whether the costs and potential harms of any treatments are explained, if the story medicalizes normal variations and states (like menopause or wrinkles), whether conflicts of interest are identified, and whether a story discusses the quality of the evidence.  
  
  
  
For example, HNR [recently reviewed](http://www.healthnewsreview.org/review/long-lasting-birth-control-cuts-pregnancy-rate/) a [Wall Street Journal article](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577422553757669354.html) on long-lasting birth control. The study found that methods such as the IUD and hormonal implants, which don’t require action on the part of the user once the method is in place, are far more effective than methods like the Pill, which require a woman to take a pill daily. HRN notes that while benefits and availability of these methods are covered, the article doesn't address costs or side effects, especially in comparison to other methods.  
  
  
  
The site also provides [tips for understanding studies](http://www.healthnewsreview.org/toolkit/tips-for-understanding-studies/) and a [blog](http://www.healthnewsreview.org/blog/) for additional topics and discussion.

---

#### 1 Response

Our Bodies Ourselves is no longer able to accept comments.

**Jessica A B** on Jun 01, 2012

Have to say that I questioned all of it, but also take it with a gain of salt as well.

![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics

- [Media](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/media)
- [Research & Studies](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/research-studies)

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