Do Information Science and Media Professionals Have a Duty to Provide Evidence-Based Information to a Questioning Public?

by Elizabeth Woodworth

This essay was originally published by the international journal, Information for Social Change. It has been republished here with permission from the author. While it is recognized that through the use of meta-analysis and randomized controlled trials the standard of excellence in evidenced-based medicine (EBM) stands alone on a pinnacle, there is nonetheless an evidence-based methodology that can be applied across the board in other decision-making areas.  Though research into the events of 9/11 has not yet attained the rigor achieved by EBM, it is still possible to rank the research in this field according to evidence-based principles. This article explains the principles, points to sources that exemplify them, and argues the ethical obligation of librarians and journalists to advance those sources.

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