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A rare “Wow, that’s a good story” moment found me reaching for my mouse to click through from a headline on the front page of the BBC News website this morning.”Coffee ‘increases pregnancy risk’”, it screamed (sic). No need for us chaps to rush to hide the Nescafé from our dearly beloveds though. Turns out the real risk is to use of language: the American scientific study on which the story was based found that caffeine increases the risk to a successful pregnancy (through miscarriage) – not the chances of creating one.
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~ by Stephen Walker on January 21, 2008.
Posted in Comment, News
Tags: BBC News, caffeine, Coffee, use of language
I personally would have read it as increasing the risk to pregnancy (as opposed to the risk of pregnancy), but it is certainly vague language. News headlines are well known for their multiple meanings.
You’re a pedant!
I’m sure the Beeb sub toyed with the idea of “Coffee increases miscarriage risk” – but you’d then have a much harsher opening gambit and – I would argue – a headline less likely to pull in the clicks.
Which is what this show is ultimately about.
Show me the money.
SD