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
wcsj2009.org, click here.
Details about the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ)
are available on the website wfsj.org, click here.