One disturbing trend I’ve seen develop over the past decade or so is the problem of reporters who have no science background covering scientific stories… News editors seem to think that one journalist is as good as the next. That may be true in some areas–sports or entertainment, for example– but often when I read a science story it’s soon clear that the reporter lacks a real understanding of the subject. Do you see that problem as well, and if so is it made worse by well-meaning but poorly informed “citizen science” bloggers?

Mainstream media outlets provide a badge of reliability for their content and their bloggers (recent events aside). How can independent bloggers and blogging networks provide an assurance of the quality of their information – short of professionalizing blogging in some way?