IS MASS MEDIA DOING A GOOD JOB OF EXPLAINING SCIENCE TO THE PUBLIC..?

MALAKA RODRIGO

COMMUNICATING SCIENCE TO GENERAL PUBLIC

MASS MEDIA IS IMPORTANT IN COMMUNICATING SCIENCE TO GENERAL PUBLIC..!!!

PROBLEMS IN REPORTING SCIENCE IN MASS MEDIA

• Factual errors

• Misquotes

• Not capturing the main point

• Not getting enough attention

• Not publishing the story at all etc.. etc…

…… Creates lack of confidence on journalists (in general)

But should Journalists alone to be blamed..??

IT IS COMPLEX..

Like in any other field..

There are Good journalists / Bad Journalists

There are Good editors / Bad editors

Journalists covering general topics / specialized in specific genres

Those who are interested at reporting Science

….Things could go wrong even after everything is carefully checked

Demands by the process

© http://carlosfb.me/editorial-design/

CHALLENGES JOURNALISTS FACE REPORTING STI

1) Getting to know about New Research

2) Fight for space in newspaper

3) Finding the ‘story’ and present it in simple terms with a flow

4) Need to ‘de-Jargonize’

5) Difficult to get information (specially from government institutes)

6) Miscommunications

7) Shorter DEADLINES

8) Largely Demands by the process

MISUNDERSTANDINGS: THINGS CAN GO WRONG EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING IS CAREFULLY CHECKED..

The late Banana, beloved of primatologist Dr. Jinie Dela. The picture was taken by a villager.

POWER OF INFOGRAPHICS

© Nalin Balasuriya / SundayTimes

HOW TO IMPROVE THE STATUS

1) Help the journalists to get the story right and interesting

2) More training for journalists

3) Make resources available assisting journalists

4) Recognize good ‘Science Journalists’ will create standards

THANK YOU.!!