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New leadless pacemaker safe, reliable

Researchers have developed a new self-contained leadless cardiac pacemaker that reduces complications associated with traditional pacemaker systems. The device was implanted in eight patients with no complications in an average of 41 minutes and demonstrated reliable performance during follow-up sessions.

Election surprises tend to erode trust in government

A new study from the University of Georgia found that people who were surprised by election outcomes are more skeptical of government and democracy. The study suggests that media fragmentation can lead to hearing only what individuals want to hear, eroding trust in elections and government.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalJournalism & Mass Communication Quarterly·DateJul 24, 2014

Partisan media driving a wedge between citizens, study finds

A recent study by Ohio State University found that viewing partisan news from both conservative and liberal viewpoints does not increase acceptance of citizens on the other side of the political fence. Instead, it amplifies polarization, making people more critical of opposing views and less accepting of those who hold them.

SourceOhio State University·JournalHuman Communication Research·DateMay 8, 2014

Smoke engulfs Singapore

In June 2013, NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites captured images of smoke billowing from Sumatran wildfires. The resulting haze descended on Singapore, pushing air quality indices to hazardous levels. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned that the haze could last for several weeks.

Newspaper sales suffer due to lack of stimulating content

A recent study published in the Journal of Mass Communication Quarterly found that readers are looking for more engaging content from newspapers. The authors suggest that journalists and practitioners focus on creating stimulating content to curb the decline in newspaper sales.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournalism & Mass Communication Quarterly·DateSep 27, 2012

Pilots of the future: Suicide and the internet

The internet can provide anonymous space for expressing oneself and finding sympathetic listeners, but also poses risks of bullying, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful information. Experts call for new public health initiatives to address the complex issue of online suicide prevention.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateDec 2, 2010

Specialist health journalists write better news stories

A five-year analysis of Australian news stories found that stories written by specialist health journalists working for a single media outlet were of higher quality than those written by less experienced writers. The study highlights the importance of this source of health literacy as traditional media faces financial challenges.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateSep 14, 2010

Online ethics and the bloggers' code revealed

A recent study found that bloggers adhere to an ethical code based on standards journalists follow, with key principles including truth telling, accountability, and minimizing harm. However, the extent of their adherence depends on context and intended audience, highlighting the need for 'teeth' in ethics codes.

SourceSAGE Publications UK·JournalNew Media & Society·DateJun 25, 2009