Annual Meeting Reports Charting the New World of Science Online: Ethical Quandaries and Challenges

Moderator: and are more about social networking editors about scientific issues; providing Iain E P Taylor than about public education.) Ward also more time, space, and financial resources Davidsonia discussed roles of science : trans- for science stories; and encouraging better University of British Columbia lator, explaining science to the public; PR from the scientific community. Vancouver, British Columbia advocate, giving the public information to Ward spoke after Jandciu about issues make decisions; and participant, engaging in scientific journalism: journals’ handling Speakers: and involving the public. of print versus online news, journals’ Stephen J A Ward Next, Jandciu explained how he and publishing of ideas that are contrary to the University of British Columbia the student researchers studied the views sponsoring organization or that present Vancouver, British Columbia and roles of science journalists. First, they subscribers negatively, and journals’ print- identified science journalists. Second, they ing of articles from citizen-scientists. Eric Jandciu designed, tested, and refined interview Open discussion followed. One audience University of British Columbia questions—both general (“What is science member asked about benefits of a scientific Vancouver, British Columbia journalists’ role in society, and what are organization’s sponsorship of a journalism some challenges they face?”) and specific intern. The panel said that the advan- Reporter: (“What resources do you use?”). Finally, tages were great as long as the intern also Elizabeth S Karlin they conducted the interviews and ana- benefited. Another question focused on Academic Medicine lyzed the data. , and the panel agreed that local Washington, DC The number-one of science news science makes excellent science stories. A stories was found to be refereed, scholarly question about PR packages elicited advice Stephen J A Ward began the session by articles. Other sources included newspa- for PR personnel to be aware of the tone saying that he would base his talk on recent pers, health agencies, conferences, the of PR pieces, avoid scooping journalists, interviews with print (not online, as the Internet, press releases, current events, and avoid making journalists unwitting session’s title suggested) science journal- family and friends, and public-relations PR personnel. A follow-up question on ists. He briefly reviewed goals (including (PR) personnel. Science journalists identi- teaching journalism students about PR education, public outreach, and research) fied their roles as informer, interest piquer, evoked advice to teach the PR process of the University of British Columbia cynicism revealer, verifier, educator, filter- and simulate a news conference. A ques- School of Journalism and set the stage for er, and standup comedian—translating dry tion about using Web 2.0 and 3.0 gener- Eric Jandciu’s discussion of recent journal- information into something interesting. ated discussion of the sometimes blurred ism students’ interviews with print science Science journalists identified the follow- distinction between credentialed experts journalists. ing challenges: finding the right person to and armchair scientists and of the need, Ward said that problems facing science explain issues and topics (someone who especially when the mass media provide journalists include the fragmentation, com- can meet deadlines and doesn’t speak jar- health information, to separate bogus from petition, and “hype” of the mass media and gon), identifying important and interest- legitimate reporting. the realities of constraints: dead- ing topics, understanding scientific stories The session ended with suggestions from lines, word counts, and reference checking. despite a lack of science knowledge, con- Ward: Science journals should provide Science journalists are caught between textualizing a story in little space, lacking instructions for the mass media as well as two perspectives, he said: that of journal- resources to meet scientists face to face, instructions for authors, scientists discuss- ists who feel that scientists are incapable dealing with scientists who are not media ing their research should check to see of talking plainly and lack understanding savvy, and selling science news in a small how much journalists already know, and of journalistic realities, such as deadlines, market for science reporting. journalists should speak to corresponding and that of scientists who feel that jour- The 25 interviewees also offered solu- authors of journal articles. nalists have no ethics. Science journalists tions: training scientists in journalism and contend with a communication revolution journalists in science; providing more pro- in which the role, public perceptions, and fessional development for journalists (for technology of media are changing. (Media example, attendance at science conferenc- are now more empowering than didactic es or university science courses); educating

8 • Science Editor • January – February 2009 • Vol 32 • No 1