The rediscovery of the Megachile pluto species caused a brief media buzz in 2019. Considered the world’s largest bee, the species was last seen alive in 1981. Eli Wyman, the leader of the expedition team that found the bee in the North Maluku islands of Indonesia, was hopeful that its rediscovery would bolster conservation efforts for the species, but not much came to fruition after the excitement wore off. He may have even harmed the bee species after it became a sought-after collectable for bug enthusiasts. 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
Merv
February 1, 2023
