Newspapers are dying, and the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University is suspending its program in environmental journalism. At a time when the greatest challenges facing us -- global climate change, loss of biodiversity, emerging infectious diseases, nanotechnology, energy -- are centered on science and technology, the science division of CNN shut down its science division late last year and the number of science journalists is decreasing. The task of covering issues with a large scientific/technological component increasingly falls to general beat reporters who don't have specialized training in science. They're often very smart, but they aren't experts, and they could use some help.
Which is where our friends north of the border are ahead of us (source).
Here's hoping that the Centre is successful and that it inspires a similar effort in the United States.1 In the meantime, journalists in the U.S. may have to hope that
Which is where our friends north of the border are ahead of us (source).
The Science Media Centre of Canada will help journalists cover stories in which science plays an important part.
...More than two dozen organizations from the private, public and corporate sectors have donated $5,000 to become Charter Members of the SMCC and are recognized on the Centre's website (www.sciencemediacentre.ca). This support is allowing us to push ahead aggressively in these areas:
- Governance models, location, start-up funding and long-term financing have all been examined by Halifax Global and that Business Plan is posted on the Centre's website.
- Formal application has been made to incorporate the SMCC federally as a non-profit corporation.
- A project manager will be engaged shortly to help the Steering Committee identify "Champions" of greater public engagement with science and to raise funds for the start-up and initial year of operations, estimated at $1 million.
Here's hoping that the Centre is successful and that it inspires a similar effort in the United States.1 In the meantime, journalists in the U.S. may have to hope that
non-Canadian non-science reporters who suddenly have an assignment on, oh, the relative merits of biofuels made from krill or algae, or a giant comet aimed straight at our Moon, or a finding that tuna are fully sentient, can call up something called the Science Media Centre of Canada for a tip on what to do and what's this about anyway. (source)
1If I had some connections, some talent for organizing, and some money, I'd do something myself. Here's hoping that someone who sees this post has the connections, talent, and money I dont.
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