In effect, they not only observe the event they're reporting about, they're also absorbing it.

VOA: standard.2010.07.01

"There was a huge state funeral and there were many pieces of journalism reporting the event in the national press and many of them talk about 'tears gushing from every eye' and the 'nation's tears', 'Britannia's tears' at the falling of her hero and poems about Nelson and so on, " says Dr Dixon.

BBC: The myth of Britain's stiff upper lip

But adverse event reporting is a rather blunt instrument and presents several problems.

FORBES: The Data On Drugs' Side Effects Must Be Reliable

Adverse event reporting has a critical role in the evaluation of the safety of a drug or medical device during its testing.

FORBES: The Data On Drugs' Side Effects Must Be Reliable