The Sun is an excellent paper when it takes serious things seriously and also
very good when it treats light-hearted things in a light-hearted manner.
The problem is, I think, that science stories are treated by much of the press
as comedy relief. ("Look what these wacky boffins are up to NOW" - type of
thing.) I have done a few stories like this for the BBC and I now feel rather
ashamed. Science is a serious pursuit and no one wants to take up a
difficult career if it means being identified as a wacky person.
An excellent report came out of Cardiff university school of journalism about
treatment of science in the press.
Lesley
>===== Original Message From "psci-com: on public engagement with science"
<[log in to unmask]> =====
>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
>Times Square
>Newcastle upon Tyne
>NE1 4EP
>
>Tel: +44191 2438283
>Fax:
>Email: [log in to unmask]
><http://www.life.org.uk/>
>
>
>Disclaimer - 16/09/2005
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for [log in to unmask] If you are not the named addressee you
should not disseminate, distribute, copy or alter this email. Any views or
opinions presented in this email are solely those of
>the author and might not represent those of Life Science Centre. Warning:
Although Life Science Centre has taken reasonable precautions to ensure no
viruses are present in this email, the company cannot accept responsibility
for any loss or damage arising from the use of
>this email or attachments.
>
>**********************************************************************
>
>1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example,
>send an email to [log in to unmask] with the following message:
>
>set psci-com nomail
>
>2. To resume email from the list, send the following message:
>
>set psci-com mail
>
>3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the
message:
>
>leave psci-com
>
>4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list
archive,
>can be found at the list web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html
>
>5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and
science
>and society can be found at http://psci-com.org.uk
>**********************************************************************
Lesley Newson
School of Psychology
University of Exeter
Washington Singer Laboratories
Perry Road
Exeter, UK EX4 4QG
Website: http://www.people.ex.ac.uk/ln202
**********************************************************************
1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example,
send an email to [log in to unmask] with the following message:
set psci-com nomail
2. To resume email from the list, send the following message:
set psci-com mail
3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message:
leave psci-com
4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list archive,
can be found at the list web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html
5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and science
and society can be found at http://psci-com.org.uk
**********************************************************************
|