The Online Life of Retracted Science: the news cycle, social media and journalistic responsibilities The Online Life of Retracted Science: the news cycle, social media and journalistic responsibilities Retracted research doesn’t simply disappear once it is withdrawn from the scientific record. In many cases, it continues to circulate across news outlets, social media platforms and public conversations, sometimes amplifying misinformation and shaping public understanding of science. This webinar explores what happens after a scientific paper is retracted, examining how retracted studies spread through the online ecosystem and how journalists, platforms and researchers can respond responsibly. Bringing together researchers from the University of Turku and the University of Sheffield, the session explores the complex relationship between scientific retractions, media coverage and public discourse. Through three presentations, the speakers examine how retracted research attracts attention in news media, how journalists frame and report scientific uncertainty, and whether social media signals could help identify problematic research earlier. Topics covered include: News coverage of retracted science and why certain retracted studies attract significant media attention The relationship between retraction causes, media framing and the risk of misinformation How journalists navigate responsibility, constraints and uncertainty when reporting scientific findings The role of social media and altmetrics in tracking the spread of unreliable science Whether online signals could provide early warning indicators of article retraction By examining the online lifecycle of retracted research, this session offers important insights for researchers, journalists, research integrity professionals and science communicators working to strengthen responsible science communication. Presenters: Ashraf Maleki, Senior Researcher at University of Turku Ashraf Maleki is a scientometric researcher specializing in the societal impact of scientific publications. Her work focuses on how research spreads across various online platforms, such as social media, policy documents, and news media. She is currently involved in the [un]reliable science project, which investigates how retracted scientific publications circulate in the media and how journalistic practices influence the public understanding of scientific reliability. Her research combines bibliometrics, altmetrics, and large-scale text analysis to study how scientific information gains attention and impact. Her recent studies examine where certain retracted studies receive extensive media attention, how different retraction reasons relate to news coverage, and what different news outlets do about the communication of scientific uncertainty. Her current work contributes to improving responsible science communication, research evaluation practices, and media literacy regarding scientific findings. Dr Malgorzata Iwaniec-Thompson, Research Associate at University of Sheffield Malgorzata Iwaniec-Thompson’s work sits at the intersection of science communication and education. As a researcher at the University of Sheffield, she researches the evolving world of science reporting, exploring the spread of misinformation and scientific retractions. Through her research, she aims to understand how retracted information reach the public and how journalists navigate scientific debates to ensure accuracy. Her other project investigate how social media can be used to understand public conversations about hereditary cancer genes, particularly what people discuss regarding genetic risk and prevention. Er-Te Zheng, PhD researcher at University of Sheffield PhD researcher in the School of Information, Journalism and Communication at the University of Sheffield, UK. His research interests include the science of science, altmetrics, and research integrity. Register for event - Timezone On Demand Location Event Types Institutions Event Category On-Demand Webinar Share With Friends Facebook Twitter Linkedin Xing Pinterest Watch now Share this: ← Previous EventNext Event →
