5 Changes Consumers Want To See In Science News

1. Stop with sensationalist headlines. It was the top complaint, something one commenter described as “the worst offense” (although apparently, something else below requires the death penalty). Quit with the sensationalism already, they say. I know. That’s not gonna happen because headlines pull clicks and clicks drive revenue. So I’ll stick with my standing advice to readers: Skip the headline. You’ll note that my own undoubtedly attractive headline does not communicate that the “consumers” in this article were a self-selecting group nonscientifically polled from within my social media circle.

It should not be difficult to find several of my critiques of articles with headlines that overreach or are simply not supported by the article, so it’s a given that I agree with this sentiment, but also the reality that it won’t change because money.