Mediating Science in Norway: Realities and Challenges. Harald Hornmoen, Journalism Programme Oslo University College

Transcription

1 Mediating Science in Norway: Realities and Challenges Harald Hornmoen, Journalism Programme Oslo University College

2 Dear participant, Science Communication/information requires simplification, and in order to simplify well you need professional/expert knowledge and understanding. The journalist will never achieve the same knowledge as the researcher. So it is very risky to leave it to them to simplify. Factual mistakes and distorted, banal presentations of many years work do not contribute to democracy or public enlightenment (From the program to the conference Science and media, Oslo 2005.My translation.)

3 Traditional view of the public communication of science

4 A model of science communication as a continuum

5 Some tendencies in Norwegian journalism on scientific issues Journalists do not use many sources, and very few written sources in their stories A reuse of sources is common The sources often initiate media coverage

6 Owned by 42 Norwegian research and higher education institutions According to themselves, they have: unique vists per month 1,4 million downloaded pages per month Researchers who are satisfied with the presentation of their research in forskning.no

7 Experts in the media. The use of researchers in the daily press There has been a significant increase in the amount of articles that researchers partake in Researchers increasingly appear as expert commentators to political decisions or other events on the media agenda (The Danish Democracy and Power Study 2002)

8 On the use of experts (From an article in the magazine Researcher Forum) On average, every day four researchers comment upon the news picture in The TV2 News Channel. It often turns out as informed guessing, says professor Anders Bjørkelo. «We are very dependent upon the experts. They give oss the weight we want» Haakon Eliassen, TV2 News Channel.

9 A characteristic use of language and frames in science journalism:

10 Referring to scientific researchers in the definite plural, as forskerne. (In English it is more common to write researchers without the definite article: Researchers have shown )

11 Forskerne frykter langtidseffekten av mobilbruk. (Foto: Stein J. Bjørge ) Føre var om mobilbruk Igjen advarer forskerne barn, unge og gravide mot mobilbruk.

12 Selv tjukke kan forlenge livet med 14 år ENKLE GREP: En 60 åring som røyker, drikker alkohol regelmessig, spiser lite frukt og grønt og aldri trener løper like stor risiko for ådøsom en 74 åring. Enkle grep kan forlenge livet med opp til 14 år, viser ny forskning. Foto: SCANPIX annonse Hvis de følger forskernes fire sunnhetsgrep.

13 The expression Research shows/has shown. Recent research shows/has shown.

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15 A use of frames and language that emphasizes the unique, the awesome and often strange qualities of the subject reported on. A celebratory discourse.

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17 Her er forklaringen på influensagåten Av Ingunn Saltbones Leine kl. 18:00 Kilde: VG Amerikanske forskere mener de har funnet ut hvorfor influensaen spres om vinteren: Svaret ligger i luften. SISTE NYTT: Forskning på influensasyke marsvin har vist at influensavirus lettest spres fra vesen til vesen når luften er kald og tørr. Tegning: JENS BENNECHE.

18 A preoccupation with findings, results and discoveries.

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20 References to the potential applicability/usefulness that the research may have.

21 Målrettet behandling av fire gener kan hindre spredning av brystkreft, viser undersøkelser på mus. (Foto: STEIN J. BJØRGE ) Stopper spredning av brystkreft Forskerne er nærmere en løsning på spredning av brystkreft til lungene. ELISABETH RODUM

22 Characteristic use of images

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27 Visual and verbal language in science mediation often invites the public to look up to science and scientists in veneration and admiration what comes across is a picture of science as a giant steamroller, cracking its problems one by one with even and inexorable force (Leon Trachtman) It does not encourage public participation

28 Journalists and researchers can broaden their understanding of their readers

29 Readers want articles that discuss, question and contextualize science. Old fashioned one way science communication is not requested to the same degree. (Peter Sylwan, Swedish science journalist and editor, my translation)

30 The master course Science and The Media

31 Aims The students are to Gain insight into how journalists relate to science, scientific uncertainty and to scientists as expert sources. Develop an understanding of how science and scientific knowledge is a part of society; how it is put to use and how it shapes and is shaped by society. Develop and perfect their science journalism.

32 Some classes first week : Journalist s use of scientist sources. Source Criticism Developing story ideas Critical coverage of environmental issues. Discussion of climate change coverage Understanding and using statistics when covering scientific research Ethics in social science research: Challenges for journalism Group presentations: how sources are used in science journalism articles

33 Some classes second week Specialist science writing in Norway, experiences and challenges Critical coverage of medicine and health How do journalists use scientific experts when covering war and conflicts? Seminar on the curriculum. Presentations by the course participants Telling the story. Narrative science journalism

34 The Exam The student may choose one of two term papers: A reportage covering science or science related issues, followed by a reflection paper discussing an analyzing the textual material theoretically helped by the syllabus. An analytic, theory based paper investigating a limited media output where science, scientific uncertainty or risks related to science are covered.

35 Some of my advices: Put reported research in a context; How does it differ from earlier research in the field? Does it expand or modify this research? What are planned studies in the field? The journalist may include some methodological details in their stories. Stories may express limitations in the studies reported on.

36 Many sources, also those critical of the reported research, can be included in the stories. When covering field of research characterized by controversies, one can make it clear to the reader where an expert stands on a scale of opinion. Does he or she represent the minority view or the view that is accepted by the majority?

37 As to researchers: Try to see your research in a larger social context Strengthen your understanding of the public Be open about uncertainty and limitations of your research

38 Trust in scientific knowledge depends upon how open scientists are about shortcomings and uncertainty in their field of research.

39 Summing up Look at communication between science and society as precisely communication, not primarily as transportation of knowledge to an uninformed public Journalists and scientists should make uncertainties in research visible. And put results in context Journalists should critically reflect on how they represent science/scientists

40 Science is the forever ongoing project of temporary truths. There is hardly anything more stimulating than to gain an understanding of this.