Discussion: Journalists reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic using research that had yet to be peer reviewed

Journalists reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic relied on research that had yet to be peer reviewed Preprints are often free to use, making them more accessible for journalists to report on. However, as they have yet to undergo peer review, science journalists take a gamble on their accuracy. The Conversation

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Journalists have historically been discouraged from reporting on preprints because of fears that the findings could be exaggerated, inaccurate or flat-out wrong. But our new research suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic may have changed things by pushing preprint-based journalism into the mainstream.

Read more: Preprints: how draft academic papers have become essential in the fight against COVID

While this new normal offers important benefits for journalists and their audiences, it also comes with risks and challenges that deserve our attention. ...