Trust in Science Communications

In recent years, communicators have become increasingly concerned that their public messages have become vulnerable to a deteriorating information environment: sound scientific information is often drowned out by social media noise or overwhelmed by what seems to be a growing deluge of “misinformation” (ie, wrong or inaccurate information). Repeated surveys of public perception affirm that consumer trust in health, nutrition, and other science communications, although still relatively high, is on the decline, like public trust in other social institutions. The authors of this article, in their years-long series of Nutrition Today pieces, have offered frequent updated guidance to science communicators in getting their messages through, given the new electronic, Web-based gatekeepers of information. Yet, trust issues remain, and public understanding of health, nutrition, and other science remains in jeopardy. In the present article, the authors continue their “trust analysis’” and offer further insight into the ongoing challenges.