This document provides an overview of the history of science and environmental news coverage. It discusses how journalistic norms like objectivity, balance, and novelty have both helped and hindered coverage of issues like climate change. Specifically, adhering too strictly to norms of personalization, dramatization, and balance can lead to an informationally biased portrayal of scientific consensus issues. The document also examines how news values influence which stories are deemed newsworthy and how science is often framed in terms of values like conflict, prominence, and novelty rather than as an ongoing social issue.
Examples from the Philippines and elsewhere of disaster recovery processes. How does the transitional period connect the early emergency with the reconstruction phase?
Examples from the Philippines and elsewhere of disaster recovery processes. How does the transitional period connect the early emergency with the reconstruction phase?
Environmental concerns are increasingly relevant to everyone, and an informed public is a critical ingredient in the necessary practical steps and policy changes needed to alleviate the developing crisis. Environmental issues have become more entwined as communication technologies proliferate. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of the media dynamics with reference to the environmental issues alarmingly challenging to human continued survival. The scientists are disturbed for its insecurity, mis-governance, degradation, management and conservation which have gradually come to capture the centre stage. At this juncture, the role of media becomes pertinent in spreading environmental awareness and making the public aware of the formidable crisis looming large over our heads. Although environmental problems are typically discovered by scientists but it is media that often play a central role in disseminating information, influencing peoples attitude and promoting public awareness. Media are the cornerstone of any public opinion and acts as a catalyst for change.The ultimate objective of this paper is to find the most decisive factors in creating awareness since this is the first step in developing effective campaigns to promote and protect the integrity of the natural environment for prosperity amongst the population. This paper is an attempt to review the meaning of environment education, its aims and objectives, and ways of promoting environmental awareness in the society.A major challenge to environmental reporting is how to convey complex concepts and impart a sense of the urgency of these challenges in a way that engages the reader .The paper also explores the evolving field of environmental journalism which prefers objectivity over advocacy (Sachsman, 2006:112) with utmost professionalism and scientific information. There is a need for more accurate and unbiased reporting in framing and forming some of the main determinants of public opinion. Sociologist Gaye Tuchman(1978) argues that the news reconstruct social world and are a window to the world, determining, what we want to know, what we have to know and what we should know. Vineet Kaul"Environmental Crisis and the Role of Media" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-1 | Issue-4 , June 2017, URL: http://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd2217.pdf http://www.ijtsrd.com/other-scientific-research-area/other/2217/environmental-crisis-and-the-role-of-media/vineet-kaul
Gender and climate change introduction (Elizabeth Bryan)IFPRI Gender
Overview of IFPRI projects, research questions, and conceptual framework (Elizabeth Bryan)
Webcast of full recording: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd5uw8llltv0vrv/2016-01-14%2010.01%20Gender%20and%20Climate%20Change.mp4?dl=0
From Limits to Growth to the Growth of Limits: responsibilities of highly and...Global Risk Forum GRFDavos
GRF One Health Summit 2012, Davos: Presentation by Bron Raymond TAYLOR, University of Florida (USA) & Rachel Carson Center (Munich), United States of America
Destructions and Progress: Removing Social Misconceptions on Environmental Is...inventionjournals
International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention (IJHSSI) is an international journal intended for professionals and researchers in all fields of Humanities and Social Science. IJHSSI publishes research articles and reviews within the whole field Humanities and Social Science, new teaching methods, assessment, validation and the impact of new technologies and it will continue to provide information on the latest trends and developments in this ever-expanding subject. The publications of papers are selected through double peer reviewed to ensure originality, relevance, and readability. The articles published in our journal can be accessed online.
CSCR Community Track #1: Talking About Climate Using Tools of Media Literacy....Sustainable Tompkins
Climate Smart & Climate Ready Conference Community Track #1 on April 20, 2013 at Cinemapolis Theater in Ithaca, NY. Sox Sperry, Project Look Sharp. Talking About Climate Using the Tools of Media Literacy.
Sept 24 Talk @Tufts University: Public Intellectuals in the Climate Change De...Matthew Nisbet
Disruptive Ideas: Public Intellectuals and their Arguments for Action on Climate Change
September 24, 2015 12:00-1:00pm | Rabb Room, Lincoln Filene Center
Map: http://campusmaps.tufts.edu/medford/#fid=m015
Live Stream: Bit.ly/LiveLunchLearn
In this presentation, Dr. Nisbet will discuss his research analyzing the role that prominent public intellectuals like Bill McKibben, Naomi Klein, Jeffrey Sachs, Tom Friedman, and Andrew Revkin play in shaping debate over climate change. He will detail how public intellectuals establish their authority, spread their ideas, and shape political discourse, assessing the contrasting stories that they tell about the causes and solutions to climate change and related environmental problems.He will propose methods for building on his analysis and urge the need for forums that feature a diversity of voices, discourses, and ideas.
Matthew C. Nisbet is Associate Professor ofCommunication, Public Policy & Urban Affairs atNortheastern University. He is Editor-in-Chief of The Oxford Encyclopedia of Climate Change Communication,“The Age of Us” columnist at The Conversation, a consulting researcher to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a member of the National AcademiesRoundtable Committee on Public Interfaces in the LifeSciences. Nisbet studies the role of communication, media,and public opinion in debates over science, technology, and the environment. The author of more than 70 peer-reviewed studies, scholarly book chapters, and reports, he teaches courses in Environmental and Risk Communication, PoliticalCommunication, and Strategic Communication.
Among awards and recognition, he has been a Shorenstein Fellow on Media, Policy, and Politics atHarvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation HealthPolicy Investigator, and a Google Science Communication Fellow. The editors at the journalNature have recommended Nisbet’s research as “essential reading for anyone with a passing interest in the climate change debate,” and the New Republic has highlighted his work as a“fascinating dissection of the shortcomings of climate activism.” Nisbet holds a Ph.D. and M.S. inCommunication from Cornell University and a BA in Government from Dartmouth College.
More information: http://as.tufts.edu/environmentalStudies/documents/lunchLearnFall2015.pdf#page=4
Reciprocity, Altruism, & Need-based Transfers as Potential Resilience Conferr...Keith G. Tidball
Kick-off talk for Disaster section of the Risk, Disasters, and Need-based Transfers Workshop hosted by the Human Generosity Project and the Decision Center for a Desert City, Arizona State University
Environmental concerns are increasingly relevant to everyone, and an informed public is a critical ingredient in the necessary practical steps and policy changes needed to alleviate the developing crisis. Environmental issues have become more entwined as communication technologies proliferate. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of the media dynamics with reference to the environmental issues alarmingly challenging to human continued survival. The scientists are disturbed for its insecurity, mis-governance, degradation, management and conservation which have gradually come to capture the centre stage. At this juncture, the role of media becomes pertinent in spreading environmental awareness and making the public aware of the formidable crisis looming large over our heads. Although environmental problems are typically discovered by scientists but it is media that often play a central role in disseminating information, influencing peoples attitude and promoting public awareness. Media are the cornerstone of any public opinion and acts as a catalyst for change.The ultimate objective of this paper is to find the most decisive factors in creating awareness since this is the first step in developing effective campaigns to promote and protect the integrity of the natural environment for prosperity amongst the population. This paper is an attempt to review the meaning of environment education, its aims and objectives, and ways of promoting environmental awareness in the society.A major challenge to environmental reporting is how to convey complex concepts and impart a sense of the urgency of these challenges in a way that engages the reader .The paper also explores the evolving field of environmental journalism which prefers objectivity over advocacy (Sachsman, 2006:112) with utmost professionalism and scientific information. There is a need for more accurate and unbiased reporting in framing and forming some of the main determinants of public opinion. Sociologist Gaye Tuchman(1978) argues that the news reconstruct social world and are a window to the world, determining, what we want to know, what we have to know and what we should know. Vineet Kaul"Environmental Crisis and the Role of Media" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-1 | Issue-4 , June 2017, URL: http://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd2217.pdf http://www.ijtsrd.com/other-scientific-research-area/other/2217/environmental-crisis-and-the-role-of-media/vineet-kaul
Gender and climate change introduction (Elizabeth Bryan)IFPRI Gender
Overview of IFPRI projects, research questions, and conceptual framework (Elizabeth Bryan)
Webcast of full recording: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd5uw8llltv0vrv/2016-01-14%2010.01%20Gender%20and%20Climate%20Change.mp4?dl=0
From Limits to Growth to the Growth of Limits: responsibilities of highly and...Global Risk Forum GRFDavos
GRF One Health Summit 2012, Davos: Presentation by Bron Raymond TAYLOR, University of Florida (USA) & Rachel Carson Center (Munich), United States of America
Destructions and Progress: Removing Social Misconceptions on Environmental Is...inventionjournals
International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention (IJHSSI) is an international journal intended for professionals and researchers in all fields of Humanities and Social Science. IJHSSI publishes research articles and reviews within the whole field Humanities and Social Science, new teaching methods, assessment, validation and the impact of new technologies and it will continue to provide information on the latest trends and developments in this ever-expanding subject. The publications of papers are selected through double peer reviewed to ensure originality, relevance, and readability. The articles published in our journal can be accessed online.
CSCR Community Track #1: Talking About Climate Using Tools of Media Literacy....Sustainable Tompkins
Climate Smart & Climate Ready Conference Community Track #1 on April 20, 2013 at Cinemapolis Theater in Ithaca, NY. Sox Sperry, Project Look Sharp. Talking About Climate Using the Tools of Media Literacy.
Sept 24 Talk @Tufts University: Public Intellectuals in the Climate Change De...Matthew Nisbet
Disruptive Ideas: Public Intellectuals and their Arguments for Action on Climate Change
September 24, 2015 12:00-1:00pm | Rabb Room, Lincoln Filene Center
Map: http://campusmaps.tufts.edu/medford/#fid=m015
Live Stream: Bit.ly/LiveLunchLearn
In this presentation, Dr. Nisbet will discuss his research analyzing the role that prominent public intellectuals like Bill McKibben, Naomi Klein, Jeffrey Sachs, Tom Friedman, and Andrew Revkin play in shaping debate over climate change. He will detail how public intellectuals establish their authority, spread their ideas, and shape political discourse, assessing the contrasting stories that they tell about the causes and solutions to climate change and related environmental problems.He will propose methods for building on his analysis and urge the need for forums that feature a diversity of voices, discourses, and ideas.
Matthew C. Nisbet is Associate Professor ofCommunication, Public Policy & Urban Affairs atNortheastern University. He is Editor-in-Chief of The Oxford Encyclopedia of Climate Change Communication,“The Age of Us” columnist at The Conversation, a consulting researcher to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a member of the National AcademiesRoundtable Committee on Public Interfaces in the LifeSciences. Nisbet studies the role of communication, media,and public opinion in debates over science, technology, and the environment. The author of more than 70 peer-reviewed studies, scholarly book chapters, and reports, he teaches courses in Environmental and Risk Communication, PoliticalCommunication, and Strategic Communication.
Among awards and recognition, he has been a Shorenstein Fellow on Media, Policy, and Politics atHarvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation HealthPolicy Investigator, and a Google Science Communication Fellow. The editors at the journalNature have recommended Nisbet’s research as “essential reading for anyone with a passing interest in the climate change debate,” and the New Republic has highlighted his work as a“fascinating dissection of the shortcomings of climate activism.” Nisbet holds a Ph.D. and M.S. inCommunication from Cornell University and a BA in Government from Dartmouth College.
More information: http://as.tufts.edu/environmentalStudies/documents/lunchLearnFall2015.pdf#page=4
Reciprocity, Altruism, & Need-based Transfers as Potential Resilience Conferr...Keith G. Tidball
Kick-off talk for Disaster section of the Risk, Disasters, and Need-based Transfers Workshop hosted by the Human Generosity Project and the Decision Center for a Desert City, Arizona State University
Digital and Social Media in the West - Andrew Revkin
The prepared text of a talk given by Revkin at Climate Change Communication: Research and Practice – a Beijing conference (Oct 12-13) co-organized by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and the China Center for Climate Change Communication (a partnership of Oxfam Hong Kong and the Research Center for Journalism and Social Development at Renmin University). Links were added to provide context.
More from Yale:
http://environment.yale.edu/climate-communication/about/inaugural-international-climate-communication-conference-2013
All the Science That’s Fit to Blog - A Dissertation TalkPaige Jarreau
A presentation of findings from #MySciBlog interviews and 2014 survey of science blogging practices, conducted by Paige B. Jarreau, for the fulfillment of her dissertation research. Please credit all data and graphics to Paige B. Jarreau, Louisiana State University.
Science Communicators and Audience Values #aejmc14Paige Jarreau
Science communicators' perceptions of audience values, and how these perceptions affect their selection and production of (news) stories about science. By Paige Brown and Rosanne Scholl. Full paper @F1000Research, http://f1000research.com/articles/3-128/v1.
“Quote an Outside Female Scientist” - A Science Press Release ExperimentPaige Jarreau
The following is a research paper presentation for Experimental Methods at Louisiana State University. All research is based on an IRB-approved survey experiment conducted by Paige Brown in Spring 2014. Please contact Paige for more details. Update: Gender of the survey taker was controlled for in statistical analyses describing the effects of gender in the press release.
WRI’s brand new “Food Service Playbook for Promoting Sustainable Food Choices” gives food service operators the very latest strategies for creating dining environments that empower consumers to choose sustainable, plant-rich dishes. This research builds off our first guide for food service, now with industry experience and insights from nearly 350 academic trials.
Willie Nelson Net Worth: A Journey Through Music, Movies, and Business Venturesgreendigital
Willie Nelson is a name that resonates within the world of music and entertainment. Known for his unique voice, and masterful guitar skills. and an extraordinary career spanning several decades. Nelson has become a legend in the country music scene. But, his influence extends far beyond the realm of music. with ventures in acting, writing, activism, and business. This comprehensive article delves into Willie Nelson net worth. exploring the various facets of his career that have contributed to his large fortune.
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Introduction
Willie Nelson net worth is a testament to his enduring influence and success in many fields. Born on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas. Nelson's journey from a humble beginning to becoming one of the most iconic figures in American music is nothing short of inspirational. His net worth, which estimated to be around $25 million as of 2024. reflects a career that is as diverse as it is prolific.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Humble Origins
Willie Hugh Nelson was born during the Great Depression. a time of significant economic hardship in the United States. Raised by his grandparents. Nelson found solace and inspiration in music from an early age. His grandmother taught him to play the guitar. setting the stage for what would become an illustrious career.
First Steps in Music
Nelson's initial foray into the music industry was fraught with challenges. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue his dreams, but success did not come . Working as a songwriter, Nelson penned hits for other artists. which helped him gain a foothold in the competitive music scene. His songwriting skills contributed to his early earnings. laying the foundation for his net worth.
Rise to Stardom
Breakthrough Albums
The 1970s marked a turning point in Willie Nelson's career. His albums "Shotgun Willie" (1973), "Red Headed Stranger" (1975). and "Stardust" (1978) received critical acclaim and commercial success. These albums not only solidified his position in the country music genre. but also introduced his music to a broader audience. The success of these albums played a crucial role in boosting Willie Nelson net worth.
Iconic Songs
Willie Nelson net worth is also attributed to his extensive catalog of hit songs. Tracks like "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," "On the Road Again," and "Always on My Mind" have become timeless classics. These songs have not only earned Nelson large royalties but have also ensured his continued relevance in the music industry.
Acting and Film Career
Hollywood Ventures
In addition to his music career, Willie Nelson has also made a mark in Hollywood. His distinctive personality and on-screen presence have landed him roles in several films and television shows. Notable appearances include roles in "The Electric Horseman" (1979), "Honeysuckle Rose" (1980), and "Barbarosa" (1982). These acting gigs have added a significant amount to Willie Nelson net worth.
Television Appearances
Nelson's char
UNDERSTANDING WHAT GREEN WASHING IS!.pdfJulietMogola
Many companies today use green washing to lure the public into thinking they are conserving the environment but in real sense they are doing more harm. There have been such several cases from very big companies here in Kenya and also globally. This ranges from various sectors from manufacturing and goes to consumer products. Educating people on greenwashing will enable people to make better choices based on their analysis and not on what they see on marketing sites.
"Understanding the Carbon Cycle: Processes, Human Impacts, and Strategies for...MMariSelvam4
The carbon cycle is a critical component of Earth's environmental system, governing the movement and transformation of carbon through various reservoirs, including the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. This complex cycle involves several key processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and carbon sequestration, each contributing to the regulation of carbon levels on the planet.
Human activities, particularly fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, have significantly altered the natural carbon cycle, leading to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and driving climate change. Understanding the intricacies of the carbon cycle is essential for assessing the impacts of these changes and developing effective mitigation strategies.
By studying the carbon cycle, scientists can identify carbon sources and sinks, measure carbon fluxes, and predict future trends. This knowledge is crucial for crafting policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions, enhancing carbon storage, and promoting sustainable practices. The carbon cycle's interplay with climate systems, ecosystems, and human activities underscores its importance in maintaining a stable and healthy planet.
In-depth exploration of the carbon cycle reveals the delicate balance required to sustain life and the urgent need to address anthropogenic influences. Through research, education, and policy, we can work towards restoring equilibrium in the carbon cycle and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
Artificial Reefs by Kuddle Life Foundation - May 2024punit537210
Situated in Pondicherry, India, Kuddle Life Foundation is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to improving the living standards of coastal communities and simultaneously placing a strong emphasis on the protection of marine ecosystems.
One of the key areas we work in is Artificial Reefs. This presentation captures our journey so far and our learnings. We hope you get as excited about marine conservation and artificial reefs as we are.
Please visit our website: https://kuddlelife.org
Our Instagram channel:
@kuddlelifefoundation
Our Linkedin Page:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/kuddlelifefoundation/
and write to us if you have any questions:
info@kuddlelife.org
Characterization and the Kinetics of drying at the drying oven and with micro...Open Access Research Paper
The objective of this work is to contribute to valorization de Nephelium lappaceum by the characterization of kinetics of drying of seeds of Nephelium lappaceum. The seeds were dehydrated until a constant mass respectively in a drying oven and a microwawe oven. The temperatures and the powers of drying are respectively: 50, 60 and 70°C and 140, 280 and 420 W. The results show that the curves of drying of seeds of Nephelium lappaceum do not present a phase of constant kinetics. The coefficients of diffusion vary between 2.09.10-8 to 2.98. 10-8m-2/s in the interval of 50°C at 70°C and between 4.83×10-07 at 9.04×10-07 m-8/s for the powers going of 140 W with 420 W the relation between Arrhenius and a value of energy of activation of 16.49 kJ. mol-1 expressed the effect of the temperature on effective diffusivity.
Journalistic Norms and Environmental Issues - #SciCommLSU Lecture 6
1. Journalistic Norms –
Environmental Issues
Lecture 6 – by Paige Brown
#SciCommLSU
Paige Brown & Zeynep Altinay
2. History of Science News Coverage
Early 1900s: science journalism was characterized by a ‘gee-whiz’
and translational mode of reporting (Rensberger, 2009).
1930s/40s: newspaper reporters viewed their role as
persuading publics that science was the salvation of society
(Lewenstein, 1992).
1950s: science reporters covered the details of scientific
discovery, rather than science’s political or social implications
(Rensberger, 2009).
1960s: science reporting becomes more critical, reflecting a
muckraking age of journalism, questioning the motivations and
political objectives of scientists.
1970s: Reporters become more sympathetic to a rising
environmental movement.
1980s: Rise of PR and promotional science reporting.
3. History of Science News Coverage
1990s: Return to a more critical stance of reporting on science.
2000s:
Rise of blogs and online science news
Polarization of news environment on scientific issues?
2014?
Scientists and amateur science bloggers / journalists cover science
in both traditional and alternative formats
Decline of full-time science journalism opportunities
Rise of participatory, dialogic science journalism in blogs and more
innovative digital science news sites.
Divergence of entertaining science news & critical coverage?
A focus on the audience information wants & needs?
4. History of Environmental
News Coverage
1960s: Corporate PR hides
degree of industry pollution, etc.
By early 1970s, both the media
and the general population
knew there was such a thing as
an “environmental issue”
1969 – New York Times creates
an environment beat and
NatGeo offers a 9,000 word
article on man’s environmental
problems
5. History of Environmental News Coverage
1969 Santa Barbara oil spill ”was covered by television as a
human-interest story of young people trying to save oil-soaked
birds on the beach. The moving pictures of students in tears
with dying birds in their arms were seen ’up close and
personal’ [on TV].” – Environment Reporters in the 21st Century
6. Today’s Environmental News Coverage
Today “almost every news reporter may be called on to cover
breaking stories about the environment.” – Environment Reporters
in the 21st Century
In the 21st century, environmental coverage, especially of climate
change, became very political and polarized.
Niche media have emerged around environmental coverage:
ClimateWire, Grist, Mother Nature Network, Yale Environment 360
The public have become more aware of environmental issues like
climate change and sustainability in general.
Environmental stories can have many different angles:
government, human interest, business/economic, pollution,
nature/wilderness, science/technology, political, health, risk
assessment.
7. Why does it matter how US
media covers climate change?
US is a top emitter of greenhouse gases that lead to climate
change.
We produce more then 25% (!) of greenhouse gases
worldwide, but we only have 5% of the world’s population.
(2006).
The media is one of the key “public arenas in which social
problems are framed and grow.”
9. Ways we don’t want the media
to cover climate change:
A subject of scientific uncertainty or even dispute
Scientific findings are often full of caveats and limitations. They are
rarely absolute. On the other hand, journalists prefer to
communicate in unambiguous terms.
A drama of conflicting personalities
A “He Said She Said” debate
“End of the World” “Fear-mongering”
Discrete, unconnected events (covering only one-off natural
disasters as opposed to an ongoing physical as well as social
issue).
Reporting on environmental issues requires a commitment to
facts, an understanding of large data trends, and takes time.
10. News values & environmental reporting
“In their coverage of environment risk the [TV] networks are
guided more by the traditional determinants of news and the
availability of dramatic visual images than by the scientific risk
of the situation involved. They are also guided in their
coverage by geographical factors (such as cost and
convenience) much more than by risk” – Greenberg et al. 1989
Journalistic news values focus reporters more on events than
issues, more on the spectacular and the dramatic than on the
chronic.
11. Traditional Journalistic Norms
Objectivity
Fairness
Accuracy
Balance
*Note: New media may be changing some of these norms,
especially the norm of objectivity, which is increasingly less
important among online journalists/bloggers.
12. News Values
Factors of Newsworthiness
Size, Scale or Scope of the Event
Threshold, Magnitude
Conflict/Negativity
Negativity, Drama, “Bad News”, Conflict,
Deviance
Positivity
Success, “Good News”, rescues and cures, etc.
Impact or Significance
Importance / Relevance to readers, Social
Significance, Interest
13. News Values
Factors of Newsworthiness
Time
Recency, Timeliness
Proximity
Nearness (might be geographical, but
might be cultural, etc.), Meaningfulness
to the audience, Ethnocentricism,
Cultural Relevance
Novelty
Unexpectedness (often used in science
news), Novelty, Surprise, “Man-Bite-Dog”
Prominence
Elite (elite nations, elite people),
Celebrities, the Powerful
http://anjagoller.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/what-makes-a-story-interesting-to-readers/
14. News Values
Factors of Newsworthiness
Personalization
Showing the human side of an issue or event, Personalities, Familiarity
Human Interest
Entertaining and Emotional aspects
Sensationalism
News Writing Objectives
Unambiguity (clarity in presenting the meaning or interpretation of an
event/issue)
Simplification
Brevity
Colour
Clarity
Brevity
Satisfaction
Story quality
15. The case of ‘prefabricated’ stories
in science
Bad Science in the Headlines:
http://embor.embopress.org/content/7/12/1193
16. The Embargo System
“an embargo is when a journal, researcher or
public information officer (PIO) gives reporters a
copy of a journal article before the article is
published – but bars those reporters from
releasing any stories about the journal article until
it has been published.” – Matt Shipman
“The embargo system has led to a process
whereby a handful of journals set the news
agenda, even though there are hundreds of
publications. Reporters tend to cover the same
stories so as not to miss out, and, even then, their
reporting is marked by Eureka moments,
portraying science as a process of discoveries.”
- Revitalizing Science Journalism for a Digital Age
18. Embargoes – More Reading
The Pros and Cons of Embargoes:
http://www.scilogs.com/communication_breakdown/embargo-pros-
and-cons/
Embargoes as Self-Defense, Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying
and Live with Embargoes:
http://www.scilogs.com/communication_breakdown/using-embargoes/
19. News Values applied to Science
What makes any particular story about a scientific discovery or a
scientific process newsworthy?
Different fields of science receive different amounts of news
coverage in general, with health, medicine and behavioral science
dominating newspaper stories, including best-selling coverage in the
New York Times (Clark & Illman, 2006).
Badenschier and Wormer (2012): Other factors that may influence
the selection of science stories by the media include
(1) importance factors - political, economic, social, cultural, ethical
and/or scientific importance
(2) surprise factors - unexpectedness and exotic nature of the information
(3) usability factors - whether the science provides advice for daily life.
20. Badenschier, F., & Wormer, H. (2012). Issue
Selection in Science Journalism: Towards a
Special Theory of News Values for Science News?
Important news factors specific to science”
Unexpectedness / Astonishment
Significance (total population affected)
Conflict / Controversy
Influence and Prominence (news involving the scientific elite)
Science journalists report on “spectacular discoveries,
laureates, and marketing opportunities but the daily routine of
scientists, the merit of competitors, or the background of
research promotion remain unknown” (Badenschier and
Wormer, 2012, p. 68).
21. “This is a very
cool study and
demonstrates
what many of us
have been
saying—that we
will get surprises.”
http://news.sciencemag.org/climate/2014/08/plants-have-unexpected-response-climate-change
22. Shoemaker, P. J. (2006). News and
newsworthiness: A commentary.
Communications, 31(1), 105-111.
“News content distracts people with bits of information taken
out of context, which makes concentrating on issues,
problems, and solutions more difficult” (p. 106)
23. Science OF News Values
News factors do not serve exclusively as journalistic criteria, but
as human selection criteria, based on psychology of
perception. (Eilders,1997)
Factors that affect selective retention (i.e. memory) of news
items by audiences: controversy, elite persons/prominence,
personalization, unexpectedness, relevance/reach.
News factors can be regarded as efficient selection criteria in
both media use and the retention of news items by the
audience.
24. Analyze This
http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-antarctic-sea-ice-20140830-
story.html#page=1 [Link] or http://ow.ly/BbwLP
Pair up.
Identify the news values in
this story. Why might it
have made the news?
Give your opinion:
Which news values add to
the quality of reporting?
Which detract?
How is the story, and the
science, framed?
26. Analyze This
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/08/29/brain-eating-ameba-
Pair up.
now-in-louisiana-drinking-water/ [Link] or http://ow.ly/Bbxe5
Identify the news values in
this story. Why might it
have made the news?
Give your opinion:
Which news values add to
the quality of reporting?
Which detract?
What is missing from this
story? How would you
change it?
27. News Values vs.
Environmental Science
Many news factors, as well as external factors such as
competition, commercial pressures on the news organization,
preference for prefabricated events and predictability, work
against regular coverage of science and environmental science.
Science PR professionals and scientists often have to present their
science in terms of relevant news values to enhance news
coverage.
28. Bypassing News Values
On a more positive note, scientists and science writers
are increasingly bypassing traditional news outlets (and
need for news values) by blogging and tweeting about
science.
“Digital environments are creating an ‘overlapping
information and communication space’ (Trench, 2009:
167) in which scientists, journalists, advocates, and the
people formerly known as audiences are all content
contributors, each with varying knowledge, background
and perspectives.” (Fahy & Nisbet, 2011: 782).
29. Personalization
Personalization: “the tendency to downplay the big
social, economic, or political picture in favor of the
human trials tragedies, and triumphs that sit at the
surface of events”
Can translate into news that focuses on the conflict
between personalities (climate scientists and politicians,
etc.) as opposed to larger scale social issues
“focusing on the individual claims-makers who are
locked in political battle.”
30. Discuss: Personalization
Why is focusing on the personalities and
individual-level experiences and claims an
issue when it comes to climate change?
*Hint – Climate change is a social issue.
31. Dramatization
Emphasis on conflict or crisis
May either lead to:
the blocking out of news that does not hold an immediate
sense of excitement or controversy (not enough talk about
climate changes or climate change science in the media
unless it is “dramatic”
or
Sensationalized, “alarmist” reporting
Both of these have issues for proper public understanding of
climate change and proper action.
32. Novelty
The “repetition taboo”
“allows persistent, and growing, environmental problems to
slide out of sight if there is nothing ‘new’ to report” (Stocking
and Leonard, 1990, p. 40)
The underlying causes and long-term consequences of climate
change are often overlooked in the media in a focus on news
pegs.
Coverage of one-off disasters (a hurricane, etc.) more likely
than sustained, contextualized coverage of climate change
impacts.
33. Balance
http://scienceprogress.org/2007/11/out-of-balance/
The norms of presenting “both sides” and giving “both sides
equal attention”
How can this be an issue for climate change?
*Hints: “false” balance; setting non-experts against experts.
34. Boykoff & Boykoff
1988-2004 Newspaper coverage of climate change
Adherence to first-order journalistic norms (personalization,
dramatization, novelty) and second-order norms (authority-order
and balance) may lead to poor coverage of climate
change.
35. Boykoff & Boykoff
In order to make it to
the top of the mass
media’s agenda,
environmental
problems must
“piggyback on
dramatic real-world
events”
Result: ‘Spastic’
coverage following
newsworthy events
and issues. (hurricanes,
droughts, political
events, elections, etc.
36. Boykoff & Boykoff
Summary: “by employing the norms of professional journalism,
the mass-media can adversely affect interactions between
science, policy, and the public. Adherence to the norms of
dramatization, personalization, novelty, balance and authority-order
is part of a process that eventuates in informationally
biased coverage of global warming.”
37. Brainstorm – What might cause
climate change ‘make’ the news?
An extreme weather event
A new scientific study
A political statement or event pertaining to climate change
An unexpected finding / turn of events
Related events (newly found environmental threats, the
extinction of a species, etc.)
A tragic event, such as an oil spill, etc.
A new graphic or image (i.e. powerful new visuals)
Can you think of anything else?
38. Getting Better?
Boykoff (2007) looked at newspaper coverage of climate change
from 2003 – 2008
“When it comes to reporting on global warming in the United
States, "phony media balance," though once a serious problem,
actually appears to have declined.” – Chris Mooney, 2007
42. “One of the most common complaints lodged against journalists these
days is the notion of “false balance”. Journalists, so the critics say, too often
present fringe scientists in a misguided effort to balance stories about
genuine science. Or it can mean "balancing" experts against people who
don't know what they're talking about.”
“False balance seems more likely to plague broadcast coverage of
science than print. Print reporters sometimes get the chance to evaluate
claims from sources before they get into print. But false balance can trip up
any reporter when there isn’t time to fully investigate a story. Often stories
end up with a he-said-she said structure even though both sides can’t
possibly be right.”
“The best way to avoid false balance is dogged research, fact checking
and adequate time devoted to vetting the credentials and sniffing out
conflicts of interest that might color statements sources make. And in
interviews, a good reporter should force subjects to be specific. Don’t let
them get away with vague, fuzzy statements, contradictions, or sweeping
conclusions beyond what’s supported by evidence.”
https://ksj.mit.edu/tracker/2014/07/report-accuses-bbc-journalists-of-false-balance-
in-climate-change-coverage/
43. Thoughts on Readings
What did you think of this Q&A?
What kind of environmental
coverage resonates with you?
Did the realize before reading
this how much environmental
reporters have to consider
politics, the human side of their
stories, health impacts, etc. as
well as the environmental
science itself?
44. Discuss – Blog or Tweet your
Responses.
“[T]he role of science journalism is not simply to act as a
'translator' who conveys the findings of scientists in a language
understandable to lay people. Rather, good science
journalism will provide the public with a realistic impression of
what is well established in science and what are current 'hot
topics', uncertainties and controversies. It will also discuss the
methods and social context of the scientific endeavour. There
is ample evidence that in the area of climate science,
journalism too often is failing to deliver this realistic picture to its
audience, despite many good science journalists.”
Answer this question: What would YOU do (as a journalist,
writer, etc.) to deliver a more realistic picture of environmental
issues like climate change? How could we improve coverage
of environmental issues in Louisiana, for example?