5th World Conference of Science Journalists

 Building and maintaining science journalist associations (Part 1) [89:39m]: Download

PRODUCER: Jean-Marc Fleury

CHAIR: Toss Gascoigne

PRESENTER: Barbie Drillsma

PANEL: Kathryn O’Hara, Julie Martineau, Fida Aljundi, Gervais Mbarga, Jenni Metcalfe

SESSION REPORT: Build your own network army

By Ochieng’ Ogodo

Forming science journalist associations is an important aspect of science journalism, but it requires conforming to some basics.

“The first step is to discover how many potential members you can attract,” said Barbara Drillsman from the Association of British Science Writers.

She said that it’s also important to stress that the association’s intention is to improve standards and to promote a network of science communicators, in case some people think you are forming a body that may be more demanding.

“It’s important to have large numbers. There is strength in numbers. Press clubs, if they exist, could also be used.”

Another important thing is fixing the first meeting after enough interest has been generated. “This can be a formal event or an informal gathering.” At this meeting it is key to discus what members expect from their own science journalist association — for example, sharing knowledge, the support of fellow members or even the possibility of taking part in larger international meetings.

It is also important to appoint officials at the first meeting. And it’s essential to be able to fund the association. “Right from the start you will need some money — even if it is only to pay for advertisements. If you do not have any, seek funding,” she said.

A constitution that lays down the rules and regulations controlling how the association will be run has to be put down. “It is easy to be bogged down when preparing a constitution but keep it as short and simple as possible.”

From the start, she said, it is important to keep strict financial records. “Nobody is willing to invest in, or support, an organisation which is not completely open about its accounts.” Often, you must establish just how much funding you will need to support the first years’ operation before launching the association.

When starting, she pointed out, it is crucial to let members get used to the idea of a subscription that will enable the association to run its basic functions.

According to Tim Louhgeed, President of Canadian Science Writers Association, association events should be sociable. “Make it a very social affair, like having parties during weekends and speaking science in a manner that doesn’t make feel like it’s a job.”

Lougheed said it is also important to have events that profile the organisation the way it wants to be seen. “For us, an award was the best way to go. But we now want to set up scholarships for young people,” he said.

According to Nadia El-Awady from the Arab Science Journalist Association, combining associations offers an invaluable opportunity for different associations to work together, especially for the young ones.

She said a lot of scientific knowledge is coming out each day and networking was one of the best ways of keeping in touch with what’s happening in other parts of world.

Ochieng’ Ogodo, a Nairobi based journalist whose works have been published in various parts of the world, is the chairman of the Kenya Environment and Science Journalists Association (Kensja). He can be reached at ochiengogodo@yahoo.com

 Reporting science in emerging economies [82:38m]: Download

PRODUCER: Julie Clayton

CHAIR: Alison Leigh

SPEAKERS: Tata Padma, Jia Hepeng, Nalaka Gunawardene, Christina Scott, Talet Ng’andwe, Luisa Massarani

SESSION REPORT: Emerging economies face different challenges

by: Aleem Ahmed

Lack of capable science journalists, communication gap between media and scientists, restrictions on reporting against the “official” opinion of the state, lesser-qualified public relations officers at S&T organizations, enormity of imported themes having little or no relevance with the society, non-existence of science-dedicated news services at local level, reluctance in media to report science, and the dearth of government interest to disseminate the scientific knowledge among the masses were the most common problems that science journalists from developing countries highlighted in this session.

Emphasizing the need for local-language science journalism, Christina Scott from South Africa revealed that there are 11 popular science magazines in her country. Among them, only one – having the smallest circulation – is in English, while the others are published in local languages.

Luisa Massarani from Brazil, who also coordinates SciDev.Net in Latin America, pointed to a huge communication gap between science journalists and scientists/ PR officials in the region: if a journalist contacts them to have their opinion regarding some S&T-related issues, generally they don’t respond. She also complained about the lack of and quality of public relations officers at R&D institutions and universities. For her, a small number of news agencies (like EurekAlert, AlphaGalileo and press.nature.com) are yet another problem that a Latin American science journalist has to face.

Voicing similar concerns, Talent Ng’andwe, a science journalist associated with SciDev.Net from Zambia, said the media in his country is free to report anything, except the opinions challenging the official viewpoint of the government – irrespective of their scientific and technical credibility. Additionally, Zambian newspapers consider political news items as the only qualifiers for the front page. And, if published, S&T-related reports find the least prominent place at the inner pages of these newspapers.

But for Nalaka Gunawardene, CEO, TVE Asia Pacific, Sri Lanka, the “immature demand for science” is an important obstacle in his country. For him, government’s unwillingness to enhance public understanding of science, arrogant attitude of concerned officials towards science reporting (using the brutal logic of with-us-or-without-us), and the sacredness of expensive ‘charismatic mega-science’ projects are the core problems that Sri Lankan science journalists are still to overcome. In other words, the lethal combination of nationalism and charismatic mega-science paralyses the real investigative science journalism in Sri Lanka. But, in the face of all these difficulties, “science (journalism) happens,” he said.

Despite making news in recent years, the overall picture of science journalism in India “isn’t completely rosy,” said Tata Padma, SciDev.Net’s South Asia coordinator from India. She noted that the science reporting in Indian media accounts for merely 3 percent of the overall coverage – heading to decrease further. Though the coverage of some scientific issues is increasing and a few investigative reports on science are getting published, the circumstances for science journalism aren’t as favorable as presented before the world. For example, there is no science-dedicated TV channel from India; most of the old Indian magazines of science are now closed while the officials are, generally, of the opinion that no one needs to know science. Like other developing countries, PR officers usually avoid media and there is no organized news service for science in India. More enthusiastic science journalists are needed to change this scenario, but the circumstances discourage new people to report science in the media.

For Jia Hepeng, regional coordinator of SciDev.Net in China, his country is facing a dilemma: China has greatly increased the spending on R&D in science and technology during recent years, yet has paid very little attention to the public communication of science – portraying a scenario almost identical to the other developing countries. But, additionally, Hepeng also suggested that science journalists might help improve the quality of science reporting in local media – by providing them with detailed coverage. He also stressed non English-speaking science journalists to improve their English-language skills, so that they can have a better international recognition.

During the discussion, various journalists from the other developing countries shared similar experiences and criticized their respective governments regarding the neglect of science journalism. Besides this, Nalaka Gunawardene observed a disparity or “non-equity” between science journalists from North and South. That is, an equally competent and capable science journalist of the developing world can only become an assistant for the (documentary-making) projects undertaken by the organizations from the developed nations. Answering a question from the audience, Christina Scott termed science magazines of the developing countries as “extremophiles” because they manage to survive in the most hostile conditions of their societies.

Finally, this plenary session ended with more voices of concern – rather than discussing the realistic, on the ground and practical strategies for the survival of science journalism in developing countries. Hopefully, during the next World Conference of Science Journalists, the WFSJ shall devote a session to discuss the survival strategies for the science journalism in the developing countries.