[GodGunsGuts]

The battle is occurring at all levels, Boxen. And the press releases are not dreamed up by the popular level science rags themselves, they are usually based on summaries and press releases that research institutions put out to draw attention to their own research. Thus, if the press release is wrong, it is usually because the research institution got the import of their own research wrong (which usually means their own scientists got it wrong).

[Ha Ha Thats Very Logical]

if the press release is wrong, it is usually because the research institution got the import of their own research wrong (which usually means their own scientists got it wrong).

The scientists don't write the press releases and may not even review them.

[Boxen]

*Facepalm*

You just don't get it, do you? If you've read scientific as you say you have, you'd understand that the actual journal article is much, much more chock full of information than any news article. Again, press releases are simplified and information and evidence is omitted. Ergo, criticism of a press release or news article instead of the actual published journal article is criticism of a strawman, as such simplifications and omissions weaken the argument.

Certainly, errors in the scientific process may be unknowingly revealed in a news article. However, how can one be certain that the errors are not the result of some overzealous technical writer who didn't fully understand the material without first reviewing the actual journal article?