SCIENCE NEWSCredibility of Scientific Topics in the Media

Lesson 1: Objective

Scientific news can be found in almost any news topic and science journalists use a variety of methods to make the information more accessible to the reader.

In this module, students will learn how to recognize science news and will learn about the role of a science journalist.

Teacher’s Note: In this lesson, we will define science news as broad coverage of any event or topic which includes scientific data or requires explanation of scientific processes to understand.

What is a science journalist? Click the link above and read the blog post. When reading think about how science news is different from other mainstream news.

Students: What would you do to change science journalism for the better?

“Time for change in science journalism?”

- National Association of Science Writers

Science Journalism

Science journalism is not reported with the same immediacy or certainty as other mainstream news topics. Studies can be unfinished or unfounded and journalists must take scientists’ best understanding and explanation of a study because that’s all anyone really knows at the time.

Students: How can the current methods of science journalism be altered to make it more immediate and also more accessible to a wider audience?

Where can we find science journalism?

Sports Science Weather Science Medical/Health Science Technology/Consumer Product Reviews Etc…

Sports Science

Sports Science

When commentators break down a golf swing or a baseball double play, they assess elements of physics, kinesiology, and weather and all sports stats require math comprehension to understand

View the following and then complete the next slides with these links in mind: ESPN Sports Science – Video: Surface Tension ScienceDaily.com –

Football Analysis Leads to Advance in Artificial Intelligence Washington Post – Are Athletes Ahead of the Science… Exploratorium – Reaction Time

What is Science Journalism? Who reads it?

All of the above links were examples of sports science and science news. What type of audience is each site trying to reach? Match the site with the audience you think would find it most interesting/helpful/accessible.

Children (ages 5-17)

Young Adults/General Audience (ages 18-55)

Retired/Elderly (55+)

Scientists

Journalists

Parents

Government officials

How is Science Journalism reported?

Sports Science: What different news mediums were featured in the selection of links and which were most effective in presenting the scientific news? Circle all that you saw:

Video Blog News Articles Interactive/Educational activities

Do any of these online sites publish magazines or news journals? What are some of the other ways these news organizations reach their audiences?

Class Poll

Rank the previous sites on a political scale. (rank each site from 1 – 10, with 1 representing far left views

and 10 representing far right)

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10

LEFT MODERATE RIGHT

Which site appealed to you the most? (rank each site from 1 – 10, with 10 being your favorite)

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10

Natural Disasters

Natural Disasters

All major natural disasters are caused by fluctuations in climate and tectonics in different geographic locations. These events are always newsworthy because they can affect a large range of people and locations with sometimes devastating consequences

View the following and then complete the next slides with these links in mind National Geographic – Photo Gallery: Hurricanes Science.gov –

Earthquakes, Floods and other Natural Disasters Discover Magazine – A Shock to the Heartland

What is Science Journalism? Who reads it?

All of the above links were examples of natural disasters and environmental science news. What type of audience is each site trying to reach? Match the site with the audience you think would find it most interesting/helpful/accessible.

Children (ages 5-17)

Young Adults/General Audience (ages 18-55)

Retired/Elderly (55+)

Scientists

Journalists

Parents

Government

How is Science Journalism reported?

Natural Disasters/Weather Science: What different news mediums were featured in the selection of links and which were most effective in presenting the scientific news? Circle all that you saw:

Video Blog News Articles Interactive/Educational activities

Do any of these online sites publish magazines or news journals? What are some of the other ways these news organizations reach their audiences?

Class Poll

Rank the previous sites on a political scale. (rank each site from 1 – 10, with 1 representing far left views

and 10 representing far right)

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10

LEFT MODERATE RIGHT

Which site appealed to you the most? (rank each site from 1 – 10, with 10 being your favorite)

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10

Science and Medicine

Science and Medicine

The public relies on the media to report new developments in medical treatments and technologies and provide social and political contexts for both

View the following and then complete the next slides with these links in mind ScienceDaily.com – SuperBacteria WebMD – Getting Your Teeth Cleaned WoodTV – Adderall Shortage KidsHealth.org - Flu

What is Science Journalism? Who reads it?

All of the above links were examples of science and medicine news. What type of audience is each site trying to reach? Match the site with the audience you think would find it most interesting/helpful/accessible.

Children (ages 5-17)

Young Adults/General Audience (ages 18-55)

Retired/Elderly (55+)

Scientists

Journalists

Parents

Government

How is Science Journalism reported?

Medical/Health Science: What different news mediums were featured in the selection of links and which were most effective in presenting the scientific news? Circle all that you saw:

Video Blog News Articles Interactive/Educational activities

Do any of these online sites publish magazines or news journals? What are some of the other ways these news organizations reach their audiences?

Class Poll

Rank the previous sites on a political scale. (rank each site from 1 – 10, with 1 representing far left views

and 10 representing far right)

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10

LEFT MODERATE RIGHT

Which site appealed to you the most? (rank each site from 1 – 10, with 10 being your favorite)

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10

Who supports science journalism? Scientists and scientific organizations obviously

want their reports published so they can get recognized for their work and receive more funding for their research.

The support of political organizations usually dictates future funding of projects and now, with modern society being increasingly influenced by new technologies, the economic sector also takes interest in new scientific findings and maps their financial success.

Regardless of the group involved, science news is heavily impacted by a range of outside forces.

The ability of journalists to report science news is directly reliant on the scientific community to publish it. The press can be manipulated by scientists who wish to trumpet their particular subject of study, but the press can also manipulate scientists to support media objectives. Both parties are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and neutrality of science news.

Read the abstract and introduction of this report Reporting Science and Conflicts of Interest in th

e Lay Press

What role do scientists play in science journalism?