As part of the Imperial SciComm MSc (some years ago now) we had some
excellent lectures on subeditting from Peter Wrobel. At one point he handed
out sheets with short articles on science/medical subjects and made us pick
which ones we thought came from which publications.
Of course we all picked the most innaccurate/noddy ones as being The Sun -
saying much more about our prejudices than The Sun's journalism. In fact,
the actual Sun article was one of the better ones, and according to Peter,
their science and medical coverage is generally pretty good. Just because
they are making things understandable, doesn't mean they aren't getting it
right or getting the point.
Whatever we may think of the paper's politics, most journalists will tell
you that The Sun have the best subs in Fleet Street. And I've seen some
terrible mis-explanations (or non-explanations) of science in the
broadsheets. So yes, you can't make easy quality/popularity assumptions.
>From: "zoe dunford (IFR)" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: "psci-com: on public engagement with science"
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Quality Newspapers and Popular Newspapers
>Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2005 10:52:36 +0100
>
>A late contribution, but personally I don't see the problem with using
>'why this car goes so fast' or 'why this face cream will really stop you
>getting wrinkles' as hooks as long as any caveats / limits to explaining
>such absolutes are conveyed. This approach highlights the relevance of
>science to everyday life.
>My experience with the Sun is that the health team have a particularly
>responsible attitude towards ensuring factual accuracy and have reported
>our science with a pretty straight approach.
>Zoe
>
>Zoe Dunford, Media Manager
>Institute of Food Research,
>Norwich, NR4 7UA
>Tel: +44 (0)1603 255111
>M: +44 (0)7768 164185
>www.ifr.ac.uk
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dianne Stilwell
>Sent: 16 September 2005 12:47
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Quality Newspapers and Popular Newspapers
>
>Well said Tony. Like all media relations strategies - you work out what
>you want to say, why and whom you want to say it. Get that sorted and
>the media you use start to become self-defining. People don't buy the
>Sun or FHM for education, they buy them for amusement, information and
>entertainment. The publishers know their readership demographics
>perfectly and will not budge from formula and content that appeals to
>that readership. So you tailor your science to that market - if it fits
>it'll get in.
>
>We've had physics of kung fu in lads mags, BMX biking in the tabloids
>and Einstein website on Steve Wright (OK - radio 2 not 1 - but they've a
>bigger listenership. All real physics - just a different presentation
>techniques.
>
>Dianne
>
>
>
>Dianne Stilwell
>PR and Public Awareness Manager
>The Institute of Physics
>76 Portland Place
>London
>W1B 1NT
>UK
>
>Tel +44(0)20 7470 4875
>Fax +44(0)20 7470 4848
>E-mail [log in to unmask]
>www.iop.org
>
>Einstein Year is here - be inspired by physics in 2005.
>www.einsteinyear.org
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Buckley, AG (Tony)
>Sent: 16 September 2005 12:04
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Quality Newspapers and Popular Newspapers
>
>Christina, everyone;
>
>It all hinges on just what you mean by the word 'proper'. I've got
>CCLRC Daresbury Lab's work or facilities into the Sun twice, and the
>Mirror once (that I know of). Was it 'proper' science of the sort that
>would appeal peer-to-peer amongst scientists? Of course it wasn't,
>because that will never get in. Was it good journalism, written for the
>style and audience of the paper? Of course it was, because the Sun and
>the Mirror employ professional people.
>
>And I'm very proud of that. We all argue 'never mind the width, feel
>the quality' when we get in the no-longer broadsheet press, and that's a
>good call in view of the assumed power and influence of some of their
>audience, but getting a single item in the tabloids probably got a
>bigger audience than six or seven 'quality' press items.
>
>It's just never going to be what some would call 'proper' science, but
>it's none the less valid for all that in my view.
>
>Tony
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Christina G
>Sent: 16 September 2005 11:31
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Quality Newspapers and Popular Newspapers
>
>
>I agree completely... I dream of getting some 'proper' science into the
>tabloids, FHM and so on....
>
>
>Christina
>
> > ----------
> > From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Andy Lloyd
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Reply To: psci-com: on public engagement with science
> > Sent: Friday, September 16, 2005 11:19 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Quality Newspapers and Popular Newspapers
> >
> > I have often thought that the biggest professional challenge in our
> > sector would be to be science editor of the Sun (if such a post
> > existed), or maybe a similar position for Radio 1. If we believe we
> > are doing something important here, then we can never be too
> > mainstream - which means a different approach to the
> > broadsheet/BBC2/Radio 4 audience. An interesting study (for someone
> > more academic than I) would be to see if it's possible to establish
> > how much science communication activity serves the same small
> > audience. I have my suspicions. What do others think?
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Andy
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ian Russell [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: 15 September 2005 14:02
> > Subject: Re: Quality Newspapers and Popular Newspapers
> >
> >
> > Despite page 3, we must resist the prejudice that Popularity and
> > Quality
> >
> > always have to be 'opposites'. I think this is important.
> >
> > *******************************************************************
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Andy Lloyd
> > Head of Exhibit Development
> > Life Science Centre
> > BioScience Centre
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> > Newcastle upon Tyne
> > NE1 4EP
> >
> > Tel: +44191 2438283
> > Fax:
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> >
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