- Información
- Chat IA
Periodismo Científico y Medioambiental - Summary - Notes
Periodismo Científico y Medioambiental (212.13288)
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Comentarios
Vista previa del texto
Environmental and Scientific Journalism
Unit 1 : Science as something with journalistic interest
- What is Science? Science is an organized way of attempting to understand the natural world, structurally and operationally.
We are always looking for ways to improve the quality of life, trying to understand how systems work and_attempting to improve an existing system.
Evidence is based on observations: Information gathered during an observation is called data (sing. datum).
Data: Data can be qualitative or quantitative. Qualitative – no specific number, rather than a comparison or estimate ex: big, blue, some, herd, bunch Quantitative – specific number given in an attempt at exacting detail ex. 21, 662miles, 13, 17 reindeer, 99,00002202%
Inferences: Estimation or prediction based on previous experiences or observations You can infer about whether or not a fish with large, sharp teet h eats other fish because of your previous experiences or observations of fish with large, sharp teeth.
Hypothesis
A hypothesis (plural hypotheses) is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. Testable prediction Possible explanation of an experience or observation in nature
Always used as a statement and never as a question. There may or may not be an underlying knowledge about the hypothesis
The scientific method An organized procedure to determine whether or not a statement (or idea) is valid. Every scientist follows the scientific method, but not every scientist uses all of the scientific method.
Identify the problem: Ask a question that you would like answered about a particular topic
Gather data: Research your topic using observations or other sources of data (books, magazines).
Make a hypothesis: Make a statement concerning your topic It must be testable and cannot be a question.
Experiment: For example, by testing your hypothesis in a controlled experiment setting
Analyze the results: Use the data from your experiment to support your hypothesis
Conclusion: A restatement of the hypothesis that takes the results of the experiment into account. The data may not support the hypothesis
What may have gone wrong? : If the Results and Conclusions do not support your hypothesis, check the research design for any sources of error. Sources of error can be included in laboratory report to help other scientists notice what may have gone wrong in your experiment
Basic sciences: biology, mathematics, geology, physics and chemistry.
Science journalism Science journalism is the journalistic specialty in the following topics: Science Technology Space Innovation Health Archeology Informatics Etc....
Use of scientific communication: Social: 1. Social interactions 2. Importance and reputation of scientist 3. Journals 4. Organizations, institutes 5. Scientific findings Economic 1. Commercial publications 2. Scientific information market 3. Scientific research funds 4. Science as a job/ scientists as employees Politics 1. National agenda 2. National planning
It’s a key element in our current society: Without scientific communication we could not provide to all society the large amount of scientific and technological findings. This would stop societal development.
Science vs. Journalism Is not a normal relationship. There are challenges... Scientist say that journalsts write scientific contents which are wrong, unaccurate and misinterpretated. But
journalists say that “scientists fon’t know how to inform the public in a simpler manner their research or how to select useful information for the general public”
Scientific journalism includes the devellopments of the main five areas of study that composed modern science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology and Mathematics. Environment, health, technology, etc. are practical applications from the above. Therefore, they may be also included in scientific journalism.
What do scientists think about journalists? Scientists are fearful of: misinterpretation, inaccuracy, loss of control, etc. They often see journalists as manipulative, unreliable, rough, lazy and superficial in their treatment of science.
What do journalists think of scientists? Journalists are suspicious that scientists want to control the media: In the mind of a journalist, scientists are poor communicators. Scientists don’t speak like “normal people”, they don’t know how to translate their body of research into an easily understandable way, or can’t tell stories in an interesting way.
There’s a conflict of interest: They have different agendas and behaviors. Scientists are too busy doing science and gathering resources to do science to spend time or energy improving their public communication skills. Scientific publications track record vs audience coverage Good science journalism” is a result of team work between journalists and scientists Time: This is the core problem between journalists and scientists. Journalist work at a supersonic speed, a scientific journalist should write up a story in hours Scientific journal can claim “rapid publication” if it only takes two months from submission to print News must be new, and if one of their rivals scoops them, they lose the story.
Expertise: The average scientist know an awful lot about their sub-sub-speciality of a particular branch of science. Most “science journalists” are just that, they cover all science.
Goal: For a scientist, an interesting article is one which adds to their own understanding. For a journalist, writing for an audience of millions, the above is irrelevant.
2012 : “Iberociencia” is created in Spain as an online service to publish scientific and technological news including international contents with special focus to Latinamerica. All contents are written and revised by a multidisciplinary team composed by journalists and scientists.
Science and society Science is a key element for societal development and it influences all aspects in human beings:
Professional Intelectual Health Environmental Welfare, etc. It is crucial that society understands scientific, technological and social development.
Differences between scientific journalism and scientific dissemination: Dissemination: developed by sources (scientists) and therefore, it tries to benefit themselves. Most of science dissemination is done by museums, books, etc. Dissemination does not follow journalistic procedures, or is developed by journalists.
Journalism: developed by journalists, it tries to benefit society and not the source. Scientific journalism is much more complex than scientific dissemination. Scientific journalism does not have as the main objective to disseminate science. In scientific journalism, sources are key elements. The journalist must know how to use these sources in order to be able to compare and identify wrong data and conflict of interests.
Science as culture in journalism In western countries, especially in the latin tradition, scientific knowledge is not necessarily needed to call someone as “well educated person”. In general, natural sciences are not considered as part of culture (Elias, 2003: 165). No newspaper includes science topics in the section “culture”. Science is normally included in “society” or “science” itself.
The social perception of science: The journalist must know how science is perceived by the target audience. Normally, the journalist writes for general audiences, to the whole society. Nowadays, there is a crisis of scientific vocations among young population. There is a common understanging that science is linked to negative events such as climate change, nuclear war, etc.
The public opinion on science: Irrationality is growing faster than scientific knowledge. Not only among mass media but in the general population.
However, the scientific profession is very well considered by society (FECYT 2002), second after medical doctor. According to the Spanish Center of Social Research (CIS), 63% of Spaniards have high interest in scientific news, only 26% considered that published information was enough. This lack is even larger with health related news.
Research on public communication of science This is an emerging field in the last years... Fields of research: How information reaches the journalists How the information is created in origin More useful sources Most frequent genres How media agenda influences science communication How scientific contents are adapted according to the media that is used (tv, radio, press, etc.) How media influences in the science development and in the promotion of scientific vocations. “Módelo de déficit”, research area saying that the knowledege is ju st taken by scientists and not by journalists or general population. Scientific journalism as new ways of public relations for the sci entific community in order to increase their reputation, power and financial support from other organizations.
Unit 2 : Sources in scientific journalism
People, institutions and organizations that provide information to journalists. They could be statements or testimonies, documents, etc. These sources are key elements for scientific journalists.
Differences between scientific journalism and scientific dissemination: Sources are needed in journalism. Sources come from experts who disseminate any scientific information. Mass media quality may be assesed by their sources.
Clasification Journalistic sources or “interesting”, “relevant” Sources with “conflicts of interest”. Altruism? Exclusive sources: not shared with other media Shared sources: all media receive same information Reference sources. These are included in the news. Anonymous sources.
Institutional sources •Research centre (public or private) •Public Research Office (CSIC) •Research team •Research project •Laboratories
Documentary sources •Databases •Scientific journals •Scientific articles
Universities as scientific sources •Researchers from Universities = + scientific independence, –political influence •Geographic centralism:for example, Universities in Madrid are more referenced in the national media.
Universities Quality Criteria Criteria to select the best 500 World Universities (Jiao Tong Shang-hai University – China): Number of students who were awarded by the Nobel Prize or Field Medals Professors with Nobel Prizes working at the University Professors very much referenced in other articles according to ISI Publications in high-impact journals
University scientists as journalistic sources ISI: 5439 world scientists are highly referenced. In Spain, the most referenced authors are from: the UAM, CSIC and Universidad de Barcelona. Therefore: all scientific journalists must know how to get: the list with the best World and National Universities and the lidt with high impact factor journals and their classifications.
Public Research Offices (PRO) as sources: In PRO, scientists don’t teach, just conduct research. In Spain, PRO are part of the Givernment, so scientists are civil servants. These scientists can’t talk directly with the media, they must get clearance from their managers (often pointed by politicians).
In “White science” (such as astronomy, there is no problema but in others such as environmental, climate change, nutrition could worry the Governments. Therefore, statements from PRO are NOT scientific statements, but “institutional or political statements”.
Scientific sources with international impact World sources that all scientific journalist or advocate should know: NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) – It’s the most known source by the public. Climate change –political manipulation The Royal Society – Isaac Newton was one of the presidents, it’s the most independent organization of the world. The web portal offers a lot of quality information on social topics: climate change, mother cells, energy, etc. This is recommended for scientific journalists who are preparing in-deep reports on hot topics.
Databases for scientifici nformation •Science Direct: more than 2 500 journals •Elsevier Medicine and Health: More than 2000 journals •Pubmed: Medline. More than 22 million of biomedical research •Ingenta:more than 12 000 technological publications •Springer: all academic fields •Scopus: Around 16 500 journals: science, technology, medicine and social sciences, including arts and humanities.
Search Engines: Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic Search, etc.
Unit 3 : Scientific journals and journalistic sources
What is a scientific journal? In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. The history of scientific journals dates from 1665, when the French Journal des sçavans and the English Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society first began systematically publishing research results.
Some of the first scientific journals in Spanish are: 1862: Gazeta Médica do Rio de Janeiro 1864: Gacéta Médica de México 1872: Revista Médica de Chile 1893: Gaceta Médica de Caracas 1909: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
If a study has not been published that means that there is a high risk of fraude. During the interview, this question should be done always: where have you published an article may have certain limitations. Knowledge of English is very important majority of press statements sent to mass media come from biomedicine, astronomy and antropology. However, other contents such as environment are less frequent sent from journals. Consequently, organisations (NGOs, etc.) are main sources in these fields.
Press cabinets in scientific journals Nature and Science are most used sources by mass media and have the most important press cabinets. In 2007, these 2 scientific journals were awarded by the Principe de Asturias Prize for Communication and Humanities. The prize stated “Science and Nature are key sources for specialized journalism in all countries”. In their press releases, almost everything is done. Journalists working in mass media need to do very little work. Science and Nature: the criteria to select their press releases are not based in the scientific quality but in the public interest
Press releases from press cabinets Inverted pyramid. Good start needed. Second, the research is introduced by for example an anecdote from the main researcher, a metafor, etc. The journalist could not access to the full scientific article. However, the ethical code states that the journalist should ALWAYS access to the full text, as well as contact the authors.
Requirements for scientific journals: Presentation, permanent, periodic publication, peer review, committee, editorial office, open to the scientific community, etc.
The editorial process is simple: Authorship-edition-print-outreach and distribution. The journal should have compulsory clauses such as responsibility (The author of the article is fully responsible for the whole conent. The content is not related to the Journal opinión) and copyright (Forbidden part or full reproduction of all articles published in this Journal).
Review articles: Review articles are an attempt by one or more writers to sum up the current state of the research on a particular topic. Ideally, the writer searches for everything relevant to the topic, and then sorts it all out into a coherent view of the “state of the art” as it now stands. Review Articles will teach you about: The main people working on a field Recent major advances and discoveries Significant gaps in research
Current debates Ideas of where research might go next
The abstract: 150 – 200 words. Must explain the objectives, the method, the results and the conclusion. It has to include the key words (3 – 10) Introduction: Should explain the “state of the art” and objectives. The references should be included and the objectives of the study towards the end. Material and methods: Participants, methods, statistical analysis, tables, figures, graphics, etc. Results: The text should not repeat what is seen in the table, graphic, etc.
Unit 4 : Internet and Scientific Journalism
Internet has changed the most relevant aspect in journalism: the relationship between journalists and their sources. In internet the most important new is not selected by the editor, but by the public... the most voted or the more “liked”... is the most important new Are highlighted news in the digital version, also highlighted in the printed version? Do editors consider how many internet users read the new in the digital version before further publication in the print version?
Before internet, the reader could not validate the scientific news. Nowadays, the public usually visit NASA’s and Nature’s webs when they are very interested about a specific new. In Irak, blogs were increasingly used by people who lived the war in their homes. Their views differed dramatically from those coming from journalists that were in a hotel. Misleading webs, how could we know that someone writing in a blog is lying? The excess of information supports the importance of “specialized journalism”. The scientific journalist knows quite well which sources are secure and which should be avoid.
There is no need for correspondents based in other countries to cover scientific information The scientific journalists would travel abroad just for some specific contents Allow to local media to cover international contents.
Interviewing as a scientist through internet: Before internet, the contact with the sources was done through face-to-face meetings or phone calls. Nowadays, email is very often used in interviews. This is not recommended. A face-to-face meeting provides much more information to the journalist (ie non-verbal communicaition). If we can’t use face-to-face for any reason, we should use VC (ie Skype) before than email. For example, interviews made by phone could improvise some questions. Interviews by internet needs a more complex validation... are you sure that the answers were written by the scientist? Did you know that top scientists have many interns or grant holders nearby?
Press cabinets What should be done by a press cabinet to get published in the media? The cabinet is an informative source providing scientific news.
The journalist should be daily updated with the current news Press releases should be linked to any current event. For example: a study on earthquakes will be likely more published in the mass media when a big earthquake takes place.
Proximity: News about nearby events increase attention News from Spanish scientists get more attention than news from other foreign scientists Antropology and paleontology are nearer to human being than botanists. Universe themes are nearer to human being than engineering.
Relevance: If we want our work to be published it should mention or be linked to important organizations such as NASA, CSIC, etc. It’s complex to have technological companies or small institutions.
Conflict: Important value Medicines for abortion, cloning, mother cells, etc.
Relevance: How many population is affected by the content? Cancer vs rare diseases Scientific news should cover large socioeconomic events, ages, professional groups, etc.
Rareness: Rareness and low frequent aspects will always get attention
Emotion and activities: Emotion gets more attention than reasoning. Something that includes activities (press conferences, inaugurations, etc.) gets more attention than thoughts, results, etc.
Human interest: Journalism should always reach the human being interest All scientific news should be linked to a social aspect. This is the best way to get published in the Society Section (where scientific news are often published).
Unit 5 : Writing skills in scientific journalism
The gap between the scientific advances and the society is increasing. There are two ways to fight this: through journalistic specialisation and through increasing the communication amongst scientists.
The specialised journalist should know how to: Describe regular events which allow us to better understand our world and the facts around it Clearly explain why those events are important and describe the context as well.
- Validate the story Information (the journalist should know all details about a scientist before the interview) Interview scientists Observation: such as visiting the place of the new (laboratories, natural parks, companies, universities, etc.). This is the best way to provide good context into the new. Participation: the journalist could participate in the research before getting the results, this will allow to include non verbal information.
- Social Interest
- Know all the data from the research
- Include enough context information
- How this new information changes the scientific perception and how the scientific culture will increase
- Writing should answer the following: Why is this study important? Why should I publish it? Why did I choose this study among all the others? Why does the public should read this story?
Technical terms: specific terms from a concrete field that is not used by the general population. In scientific journalism: Use simple structures Impersonal style (dissemination) versus personalisation (journalism) chronic Technical terms are skipped as much as possible but are not rejected. Replace the technical term by terms used in the general language Use of explanations The first time that the term appears, a definition should be included Technical terms should not appear separately but within a context First use the most known terms, then the most difficult (Gutierrez, 1998:327)
Unit 6 : Journalistic genres applied to scientific journalism
The term "journalism genres" refers to various journalism styles, fields or separate genres, in writing accounts of events. Writing styles. Styles: news stories, features,
interviews, biographies Scientific information may use all writing styles .We need to know when and how to present each scientific content
Features The most used style in scientific journalism These are longer and more in depth than regular news articles. They cover one subject from multiple angles Features are written in a more creative, entertaining format. Although a news story can be creative and entertaining, too! May include sub-styles: interview, biography, etc. Different sources are used Reporting of facts with interpretation often included Purpose: to inform and explain No limits: Lead, Anecdote, Quotes from scientists, Context (lab, hospital, etc.), Scientific data. Should include:Introduction (scientific discovery, findings, what is new, the newest aspect, etc.), Development (method, patients, key aspects), Conclusion (practical examples, how the future will be presented, etc.) Focus on:Person/people, Discovery, Practical applications
News stories More fresh and difficult style Journalist should move to the field It needs a physical space, timing and objective aspects: Sun, genetics can’t be included as news stories. Less used in scientific journalism Current journalism is more “lazy” and “dependent” of press cabinets
Interviews Interview to scientists Ethical considerations always followed! Open questions better
Biography Profile: Remind data about a scientist that is unknown for the general public, For example a Nobel Prize will always need a profile Biographical sketch/note: “Small” profile, Often used in the beginning of an interview as a way to introduce the scientist Obituary: Profile of someone who has died
Periodismo Científico y Medioambiental - Summary - Notes
Asignatura: Periodismo Científico y Medioambiental (212.13288)
Universidad: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
- Descubrir más de:
