Should a journalism conference be sponsored by industries the journalists report on?

Summary: This podcast was published on October 26th, 2017. For background information and related links visit: https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2017/10/podcast-conflicts-interest-world-conference-science-journalists/ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Today marks the opening of the 10th World Conference of Science Journalists in San Francisco. Over 1,300 people will be in attendance, and that's a big number. But there's an even bigger number that may not get as much attention but really should: The conference is receiving $400,000 from biomedical giant, Johnson & Johnson, and another $200,000 from various companies such as Bayer, Sanofi, 23andMe, and AstraZeneca. In this podcast we ask the question: Should health care journalists -- or their professional organizations -- take money from the people they report on regularly?