It Ain't Necessarily So: How Media Make and Unmake the Scientific Picture of Reality

by David Murray

Airplane crashes. The AIDS epidemic. Presidential election polls and voting results. Global warming. The latest cancer scare . All these news stories require scientific savvy first, to report, and then―for news consumers―to understand. It Ain't Necessarily So cuts through the miasma surrounding media reporting of scientific studies, surveys, and statistics. Whether the problem is bad science, media politics, or a simple lack of information or knowledge, this book gives news consumers the tools to penetrate the hype and dig out the facts. Don't stop flying, run to the doctor, or change your diet before reading It Ain't Necessarily So .

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 7, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Reviews

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! I hope they write a second edition.

[Jerrid Kruse · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book’s points are important. It would be nice if they applied them to conservative news outlets as well.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book. It's a good education/reminder of the need to critically think about the information you are receiving especially if you are going to pass it on, or base decisions upon said information.

[Michael Pack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book opened my eyes to how media is consumed, and the importance of not taking a news story at face value. There is often an agenda, misinformation, and skewed perspectives.