Shaky science gets an easy run | Media Watch

Key Concepts:

• Oxygenated water (Cure Water) and its purported benefits for athletes.
• Scientific validity of claims made by Cure Water, including research methodology and peer review.
• Travel insurance and the role of news outlets in reporting on insurance claims (One Cover case).
• Radio broadcasting decency standards and regulatory breaches (Kyle and Jackie O show).

1. Oxygenated Water (Cure Water) Investigation

• Main Topic: Examination of claims made by Cure Water regarding its benefits for athletes and the scientific evidence supporting those claims.
• Key Points:
  • A-League and NRL teams are reportedly considering using oxygenated water.
  • Channel 7 reported on Crystal Palace's use of hyper-oxygenated water.
  • Cure Water claims to have improved technology to deliver 10 times the oxygen of normal H2O.
  • Channel 7 tested Cure Water with reporter Joel Dry, who claimed improved blood results.
  • The study supporting Cure's claims was funded by Cure itself.
  • Experts criticized the study's minuscule sample size and lack of peer review.
  • UNSW professor Timothy Schmidt stated that an athlete would need to drink 66 liters of Cure water per minute to get the same oxygen as breathing under exercise conditions.
  • Caroline Mansfield, a naturopath working with Cure, conducted the blood tests on Joel Dry.
  • A 25-year-old German paper claimed oxygenated water could be a cure for cancer and prevent the spread of tumors.
• Arguments/Perspectives:
  • Cure defends its product as beneficial and states that its research was not presented as conclusive evidence.
  • Channel 7 claims to have carefully attributed Cure's wild claims.
• Data/Statistics:
  • Cure claims to deliver 10 times the oxygen of normal H2O.
  • 66 liters of Cure water per minute needed to equal oxygen intake from breathing during exercise (according to Professor Schmidt).
• Technical Terms:
  • Hyper-oxygenated water: Water with a higher concentration of oxygen than normal.
  • Peer review: Evaluation of scientific work by experts in the same field.
• Logical Connections: The segment starts with the hype around oxygenated water, then moves to the scientific scrutiny, revealing the flaws in the research and the potential conflicts of interest.

2. Travel Insurance and News Reporting (One Cover Case)

• Main Topic: Investigation into news reports about Australians benefiting from One Cover travel insurance and the potential for biased or misleading reporting.
• Key Points:
  • News.com.au reported on Holly Biset's ski accident in the US and how One Cover insurance covered her $120,000 medical bill.
  • Nine's website also reported on Holly Biset's case in 2023, with identical details.
  • The story was likely a publicity piece written by One Cover and lifted by news outlets.
  • Other similar stories about Australians saved by One Cover were found on news websites.
  • The Sunday Age reported on Steven Stanton, whose One Cover insurance refused to pay out for a life-saving operation in Thailand.
  • Jordan Hunt's broken leg in Barley was another case where the insurer only paid for emergency surgery after pressure from family.
• Arguments/Perspectives:
  • One Cover claims it has no influence over editorial decisions and provides case studies to journalists without compensation.
  • Nine insists it has no commercial arrangement with One Cover and that reporters did contact the people involved in most stories.
  • News.com.au conceded it should have disclosed the source of the case studies.
• Examples:
  • Holly Biset's ski accident in Connecticut.
  • Steven Stanton's medical emergency in Thailand.
  • Jordan Hunt's broken leg in Barley.
  • Elizabeth Rump's fall in Honolulu.
  • Sarah Lancaster's encounter with a monkey in Nicaragua.
• Logical Connections: The segment highlights the contrast between positive news stories about One Cover and instances where the company allegedly failed to provide adequate coverage, suggesting a potential bias in reporting.

3. Radio Broadcasting Decency Standards (Kyle and Jackie O Show)

• Main Topic: Examination of breaches of on-air decency standards by the Kyle and Jackie O radio show and the regulatory response.
• Key Points:
  • Kyle and Jackie O have been found to have breached on-air decency standards by the ACMA.
  • Examples of indecent content included sexually suggestive comments and discussions about sexual practices.
  • The show has the most indecency breaches of any radio program in the past 15 years (six since 2010).
  • ARN, the show's employer, has faced enforcement action, including sensitivity training and the employment of a censor.
  • The ACMA has opened two further investigations into possible systemic issues on the program.
  • Almost half of the complaints made across the commercial radio sector in 2023-2024 were about the Kyle and Jackie O show.
  • Politicians Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese have endorsed the show with appearances.
• Arguments/Perspectives:
  • ARN claims the show takes on audience feedback and constantly evolves.
  • The ACMA states it is restrained by the regulatory regime and has taken escalating enforcement actions.
• Data/Statistics:
  • Six breaches of decency standards since 2010.
  • Almost half of the 321 complaints made across the commercial radio sector in 2023-2024 were about the Kyle and Jackie O show.
• Logical Connections: The segment presents evidence of the show's repeated breaches of decency standards, the limited effectiveness of regulatory actions, and the surprising endorsement of the show by prominent politicians.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The Media Watch segment exposes potential issues with the promotion of unproven products like Cure Water, the uncritical acceptance of PR-driven narratives in news reporting about travel insurance, and the persistent failure to enforce decency standards in commercial radio. It criticizes news outlets for prioritizing sensationalism and easy content over journalistic integrity and highlights the need for greater scrutiny of claims made by companies and public figures. The segment underscores the importance of media literacy and critical thinking in navigating the information landscape.