This article is reproduced from Science Newspaper see
http://www.sciencenewspaper.eu/open-articles/2009-03/wcsj.aspx.
Author: Catalin Mosoia, Bucharest, Romania
Published: 14 March 2009
The beginning of summer coincides with the sixth World Conference of Science Journalists, hosted in London, at Central Hall, Westminster from June 30 to July 2nd. We spoke to Pallab Ghosh, President of the World Federation of Science Journalists and BBC Science Correspondent about this biannual global event. We discussed what news will be brought to your attention, why should science journalists attend, what are the expectations, and last but not least, the effect of the financial crisis in the area of science writing.
What is the news that sixth WCSJ will bring into attention?
Pallab Ghosh: “The WCSJ is not really about news it is about improving standards of science journalism. It is about science journalists organising our own international event on issues we think are interesting and important to our profession, such as how we should cover climate change and how we take advantage of the opportunities provided by new media. But most of all its for reporters and producers from across the world to get together and develop the culture of critical, hard-hitting journalism. Once upon a time, our job was to translate and enthuse about science. Now it’s to provide mature, independent analysis of scientific developments that will shape the future destiny of communities across the world.”
Why science journalists should participate at the conference?
Pallab Ghosh: “We can all get better at what we do, there is never a stage in your career where you can sit back and rest on your laurels, particularly in journalism. We can all become more professional, we can all learn new skills, particularly with the way we report changing so rapidly due to new digital technologies and we can all learn from others regardless of the stage of their career. As journalists we are pretty poor at taking stock of what we do as we are usually too busy doing it! The world Conference provides the opportunity to do this whether you come for one day – or as we hope – for the whole Conference."
What are you expecting from the conference?
Pallab Ghosh: “A gathering of scientific journalists from all corners of the world, with each and every one leaving with new skills, new enthusiasm, new contacts and plenty of stories. A strengthening of the international community of science journalists and ultimately a clear improvement in science coverage, in all parts of the world. Oh and not forgetting some memorable parties!”
Is science journalism in danger due to the financial crisis?
Pallab Ghosh: “Yes, and this is backed up by information being gathered in the USA and Europe. I wouldn’t say that science journalists are being singled out, but we are an easy target for editors and publishers having to manage squeezed budgets. They can incorrectly see Science Journalists as luxury items. Our job is to show that we are absolute necessities – particularly as so many important international policy issues, such as climate change and stem cell research depend not just on an understanding of the science – but require reporters that have the confidence to challenge and scrutinize claims made by individual scientists and institutions which can often have their own agenda.”
What is the relation between science journalism and science communication?
Pallab Ghosh: «A neat comparison of the two disciplines was made by a British Newspaper proprietor, Lord Beaverbrook who once famously said that “news was something that someone somewhere wanted to suppress, everything else is advertising”. Advertising and enthusing about science is important. But the process of independently and expertly challenging what vested interests have to say on scientific issues, be they scientists or supposedly ‘anti-science’ campaign groups, is in my view more important. It also makes for better copy.”
What is the portrait of a science journalist? Should he/she be journalist first or have to have a science background?
Pallab Ghosh: “No. Some of the best science journalists have no background in science, such as Mark Henderson of the UK daily newspaper The Times, while some of the most fawning toward the scientific community have PhDs in science. Being a science correspondent used to be like being a sports correspondent – who in the main enthuse and promote. I’d like us now to try and be more like foreign correspondents – who have an empathy and often love for the country they are covering, but are able to provide critical, challenging, prize winning coverage when appropriate.”
For more info about the sixth World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ 2009) please visit the website of the conference
www.wcsj2009.org. Details about the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) are available on the website
www.wfsj.org.
Labels: science journalism
