STAT launches first trust-in-science reporter to explore declining public confidence in health research

Alex Hogan, senior multimedia producer at STAT, hosts the weekly video series STATus Report and recently aired an episode titled “Why is trust in science important?”.

The episode notes that public confidence in science and health institutions has been falling for years, driven by disinformation and cultural shifts as well as real scandals involving major U.S. health‑care companies.

To address the issue, STAT hired Nicholas Florko as its first dedicated trust-in-science reporter. Florko says his aim is to uncover why people distrust science, identify the forces behind it, and suggest ways to rebuild trust where needed.