Flat Earth News by Guardian journalist Nick Davies was one of the most seminal books on journalism this decade provoking outright fury from some of those it exposed, who raced to letters pages and blogs to attack it. But despite the outrage caused to some , many others recognised the bleak truth at the centre of Davies’ thesis, that fewer and fewer journalists filling more and more space has led to the collapse of accurate, truth-telling journalism and the explosion in ‘churnalism’ – journalists forced to churn out information straight from press releases.

While Davies’s book covers many aspects of reporting he also covers science stories and argues that some of the most damaging and costly examples of Flat Earth News can be located in the sphere of science and health. Since publishing his book Davies has travelled the world debating his theories with other journalists and being challenged by press officers over his views on the dangers of relying on science and health PR. Now he is coming to the World Conference of Science Journalists to elaborate on the ideas in his book and answer your questions and criticisms.

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Session 01.mp3