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• Date of publication Sep 09, 2026 Category: Article

  The relationship between news factors in press releases and press release success

  by Michelle ten Dam , Nieske Louise Vergunst , Mark Bos

  Science journalism has changed significantly in recent years, characterised by an increased reliance on (university) press releases, underscoring the need to understand factors determining press release success. Using news value theory, the relationship between textual and visual news factors in university press releases and press release success, in terms of achieving webpage engagement and media uptake, is investigated. A content analysis of 84 press releases from Utrecht University's Faculty of Science showed that the relationship was highly metric-specific, with different news factors being important for the two success metrics. Novelty, societal relevance, and negativity proved most important for webpage engagement, and fear, mixed valence, and scientific relevance for media uptake. Our findings suggest the need for an adapted news value theory for science press releases and news, both in general and for visuals specifically.

  Volume 25 • Issue 6 • 2026

• Date of publication Nov 24, 2025 Category: Book Review

  Review of the book: Medical Editing – A Guide to Learning the Craft and Building Your Career.

  by Mark Bos , Nathalie Kuijpers

  In Medical Editing – A Guide to Learning the Craft and Building Your Career, Barbara Gastel delivers exactly what the title promises. Moving from introductory overviews to practical insights to ethics and career advice, the book offers a nice entry point for those new to the field. While primarily focusing on medical editing, its insights make it a useful resource for most starting in scientific or academic communication. 

  Volume 24 • Issue 07 • 2025

• Date of publication Feb 05, 2024 Category: Article

  A comparative study of frames and narratives identified within scientific press releases on ocean climate change and ocean plastic

  by Aike N. Vonk , Mark Bos , Ionica Smeets , Erik van Sebille

  To understand how scientific institutions communicate about ocean climate change and ocean plastic research, 323 press releases published between 2017 and 2022 were analyzed. A clustering method revealed 4 ocean climate change and 5 ocean plastic frames that were analyzed qualitatively. Ocean plastic was presented as a biological and health issue, placing an emphasis on solutions and society's obligation to implement them. Ocean climate change was framed as environmental and socio-economic problem, highlighting politics' responsibility for mitigation. Narratives were only used to personify science and represent scientists, indicating that future press releases could include more social dimensions to engage audiences in ocean issues.

  Volume 23 • Issue 01 • 2024