Correcting erroneous claims is only one aspect of debunking health misinformation. The panelists at a workshop held in May at the annual conference of the Association of Health Care Journalists in Los Angeles said it’s about meeting people where they are, using words carefully, and developing trust without sacrificing the truth. One main theme ran through the panelists’ recommendations: journalists must move from correction to connection in order to effectively cover health misinformation. The panelists urged reporters to establish credibility with their readers by being open, modest, and involved on a regular basis:

• Think about the language you use. Even the term ‘misinformation’ can be problematic.
• Verify everything – including government sources.
• Trust your audience with information. They can handle nuance.
• Lead with empathy, not confrontation, to build trust.
• Meet people where they are.
• Bolster facts and data with personal stories.
• Provide on-ramps to complex topics for audiences.
• Be transparent about your reporting process.
• Choose quotes with strategic care.
• Ask your audience what they need, to show them you’re listening.
• Keep reporting on the topic.
• Explain how science works, not just what it says.

https://journalistsresource.org/home/covering-health-misinformation-what-journalists-need-to-rethink