For a self-taught scientist, Michael Faraday contributed a huge amount to the development of tools still used today. However, due to missteps in the publication of his findings after inventing the electric motor, he was barred from working in the field until the death of his former mentor Humphry Davy. After failing to acknowledge Davy, Faraday was accused of plagiarism; as a result, after being inducted into the Royal Society, he was only given busywork for a decade, leaving him – and the world – craving further invention. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here