Any set of figures needs adjusting before it can be usefully reported
The last two [articles], at least, made a good effort to explain that this effect disappeared when the researchers accounted for social and demographic factors. But was there ever any point in reporting the raw finding, from before this correction was made?
Dr Ben Goldacre is quite right; but making it doubly bad is that the newspapers all took their lead from the BMJ (british medical journal) press release! Whilst the academic article was quite clear the press release was dreadful. Dr Evan Harris (who was voted out of parliament at last election – removing one of the few scientists/medics in the house – boo!) quotes the press release here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/aug/05/bad-science-adjusting-figures?commentpage=1#comment-11861896
he finishes his comment with the great point that ” The Telegraph and Fox News journalists could have looked at the paper and corrected the BMJ press release.
But why would the BMJ produce a press release that would require tabloid journalists to correct in order not to mislead readers?”