Science: A New Mission to Explain
A recent BBC analysis of its science coverage in its own news reports revealed that 75% came from press releases, and only a tiny fraction contained views not expressed in those press releases.
This lip service is not good enough, and editors should wise up that science journalism has lost its edge and demand reform. It has also become uncritical and therefore not journalism. Too many who profess to practice journalism are the product of fashionable science communication courses that have sprung up in the past fifteen years. It’s my view that this has resulted in many journalists being supporters of, and not reporters of, science. There is a big difference.
Good points. The irony is that this is from the Huffington Post, which has a reputation for reporting and supporting some dodgy medical science, such as antivax tripe and homeopathy.
There is no faster moving, more important, and vital area of human initiative than science. Social equity. Heteronormatism problematizes homosocial othering. The Officially Sad deserve to receive what the productive have stolen from them by dint of being productive, including Carbon Credits. Diversity, equal opportunity, affirmative action, other-ablement, multiculturalism, special needs, compassion, advocacy… admission by reason of disqualification.
But science, and communicating science, is too important to be left to the scientists. In the whole of human history across the entire planet, not one deity has volunteered Novocain. Gods’ dominion is ignorance, poverty, hunger, disease, filth, death, and silk-clad priests with whips. Official Truth does not tolerate objective contradiction. Maintain your healthy aura and never bow to the Evil IQ.
If you do not like being alone, it is because you are in poor company. Get educated and think of something. The only reality is objective reality. Stop suckling artificially sweetened nipples.