Comments on: Reporting science in emerging economies http://wcsj2007.internetguruhosting.net/program/session/reporting-science-in-emerging-economy/ Sessions, workshops and sponsored events from the 5th World Conference of Science Journalists, Melbourne Australia 17-19 April 2007 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:06:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Jia Hepeng http://wcsj2007.internetguruhosting.net/program/session/reporting-science-in-emerging-economy/#comment-11 Jia Hepeng Wed, 16 May 2007 23:58:26 +0000 http://wcsj2007.internetguruhosting.net/program/session/reporting-science-in-emerging-economy/#comment-11 I am posting my presentation here for further discussion--JIA Hepeng: What does “emerging economy” mean in the field of science: * Rapid S&T budget increases: China: from 1.3 per cent of GDP in 2005 to 2.5 per cent of GDP in 2020<br/>*Rapid growth in scientific output: 150,000 S&T papers, ranked the world’s fourth, after US, UK and Japan, in 2005. In terms of citations, ranked the world’s 13th. (ISTIC 2006) * The eagerness to keep up with the international (West) scientific level. * The strong willingness to be acknowledged by the international community. * The strong desire of not being neglected or excluded in the international dialogue/contexts of science development * The rising self-awareness of maintaining an integrated (somewhat independent) science community. Then the chances in “emerging economy” to cope with problems faced by science journalism: 1. Science or research-based companies in the emerging economies could sometimes be easier to make world-leading research because the desire to keep up with the West could bring looser regulation. Journalists can make good stories of them especially when they know the international situation of it as well as the international debate on the project. Although many emerging economy scientists are reluctant to talk with journalists in general, they are eager to cope with the international doubts and questions. This is the case of China’s gene therapy. 2. Additionally, in an immerging economy like China, there are many huge science projects. The projects themselves could be an important news source, as long as journalists take more independent views to observe and research them. Within the big projects which cannot be questioned, many details could be picked up for discussion in the journalistic contexts, because this can create a signal that journalists are helping to improve the projects by making them in accord more with international practices. 3. The government influence is strong, but scientists become growingly reluctant to be oriented or dominated by studies which might not bring international excellence. Therefore, there are more chances to get individual scientists who could comment whether certain studies/programmes are international level or are in accordance with international norms. scientists would not form an image unacceptable by international community. Therefore, as long as a journalist knows more about international norms and background, he or she can use this to encourage or activate the responses from scientists. 4. The strong government influence is the major reason for lacking meaningful and effective debate. But in an emerging economy, the social forces becomes stronger and more diversified. There will be chances to grasp this behind the seemingly peaceful picture of academia. 5. The situation for debate is especially true when in the international community, there are already debates on certain issues in the immerging economy, such as China’s huge water diversion project. A lot of the immerging economy scientists would not make their international counterparts feel that they are indifference to these internationally heated issues. But again, journalists need to protect their sources by using anonyms or other tricks. I am posting my presentation here for further discussion–JIA Hepeng:
What does “emerging economy” mean in the field of science:
* Rapid S&T budget increases: China: from 1.3 per cent of GDP in 2005 to 2.5 per cent of GDP in 2020
*Rapid growth in scientific output: 150,000 S&T papers, ranked the world’s fourth, after US, UK and Japan, in 2005. In terms of citations, ranked the world’s 13th. (ISTIC 2006)
* The eagerness to keep up with the international (West) scientific level.
* The strong willingness to be acknowledged by the international community.
* The strong desire of not being neglected or excluded in the international dialogue/contexts of science development
* The rising self-awareness of maintaining an integrated (somewhat independent) science community.

Then the chances in “emerging economy” to cope with problems faced by science journalism:
1. Science or research-based companies in the emerging economies could sometimes be easier to make world-leading research because the desire to keep up with the West could bring looser regulation. Journalists can make good stories of them especially when they know the international situation of it as well as the international debate on the project. Although many emerging economy scientists are reluctant to talk with journalists in general, they are eager to cope with the international doubts and questions. This is the case of China’s gene therapy.

2. Additionally, in an immerging economy like China, there are many huge science projects. The projects themselves could be an important news source, as long as journalists take more independent views to observe and research them.
Within the big projects which cannot be questioned, many details could be picked up for discussion in the journalistic contexts, because this can create a signal that journalists are helping to improve the projects by making them in accord more with international practices.

3. The government influence is strong, but scientists become growingly reluctant to be oriented or dominated by studies which might not bring international excellence. Therefore, there are more chances to get individual scientists who could comment whether certain studies/programmes are international level or are in accordance with international norms.
scientists would not form an image unacceptable by international community. Therefore, as long as a journalist knows more about international norms and background, he or she can use this to encourage or activate the responses from scientists.

4. The strong government influence is the major reason for lacking meaningful and effective debate. But in an emerging economy, the social forces becomes stronger and more diversified. There will be chances to grasp this behind the seemingly peaceful picture of academia.

5. The situation for debate is especially true when in the international community, there are already debates on certain issues in the immerging economy, such as China’s huge water diversion project. A lot of the immerging economy scientists would not make their international counterparts feel that they are indifference to these internationally heated issues. But again, journalists need to protect their sources by using anonyms or other tricks.

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