How Journalists view Science Science in the Press VA-reports 2005:5 and 2005:6
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Vetenskap & Allm채nhet
Facts about the two studies 550 telephone interviews, conducted in Sweden 26 Aug – 15 Sept 2005 Interview groups: - Journalists (all media, all areas) - Science journalists - Journalism students Focus: • Attitudes to science and scientists • Contacts with researchers • Access to scientific information • The journalists’ ”wish list”
2
Analysis of scientific content in a selection of Swedish youth and family magazines and regional newspapers. 8600 pages in total (articles + ads).
www.v www.v--a.se
1
Journalists trust researchers
… universities? Journalists
15%
Swedish public
15%
78%
6%
56%
19%
4%
… companies? 40%
Journalists Swedish public
8% 0%
Very great trust
48% 43%
10%
20%
Great trust
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4
30%
5% 40%
Don't know
50%
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: How much trust do you have in researchers at…
4%
35% 60%
Little trust
70%
7% 80%
Very little trust
90%
100%
No trust at all
Researchers have less trust in journalists Q: How much trust do you have in journalists working for…
Researchers 2003
42%
Swedish public 2005
42%
28%
44%
4%
10% 3%
13%
8%
… tabloids? Researchers 2003
Swedish public 2003
18%
6% 0%
Very great trust
44%
35%
38% 10%
Great trust
Source: VA-report 2003:4, 2005:4
20%
30%
26% 40%
Don't know
50%
60%
Little trust
28% 70%
80%
90%
Very little trust
100%
www.v www.v--a.se
… quality daily newspapers?
No trust at all
Journalists don’t trust “blogs”
… news bureaus? Journalists
7%
Journalists 4% Science journalists
6%
Journalism students
5%
… ”blogs”?
0%
Source: VA-report 2005:6
24%
69%
Science journalists Journalism students
18%
71%
6%
18%
34%
28%
47%
20%
11%
40%
6%
12%
80%
40%
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: How much trust do you have in information from…
60%
18%
20%
18% 15%
15% 21%
80%
100%
Very great trust
Great trust
Little trust
Don't know
Very little trust
No trust at all
Journalists have a high level of confidence in the potential of science
… developing a new vaccine against HIV/AIDS
88% 85% 89%
69%
… slowing down climate changes
66% 55%
… increasing economic growth in Sweden
Journalists
60% 70% 57%
0%
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4
20%
40%
60%
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Q: Do you believe that within ten years research has the potential to contribute to…
Science journalists Swedish public 80%
100%
Positive attitude to scientific development
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Q: Do you think that scientific developments over the last 10 to 20 years have made life better or worse for ordinary people? Much better
Somewhat better
Neither better nor worse
Somewhat worse
Much worse
Don't know
35%
Journalists
43%
Science journalists
37%
45%
Swedish public
37%
46%
0%
10%
20%
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4
30%
40%
50%
60%
12%
10%
11%
12%
70%
80%
90%
7%
100%
Positive attitude to technological development
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: Do you think that technological developments over the last 10 to 20 years have made life better or worse for ordinary people? Much better
Somewhat better
Neither better nor worse
Somewhat worse
Much worse
Don't know
43%
Journalists
47%
Science journalists
0%
20%
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4
9% 4%
43%
40%
60%
6%
11%
36%
42%
Swedish public
12%
37%
80%
100%
Are Science & Technology too difficult?
8%
Journalists Science journalists
16% 17%
10%
Completely agree
62%
30%
17% 0%
43%
19%
Researchers 3% 9% Swedish public
32%
56%
23% 20%
30%
Largely agree
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4, 2003:4
30% 40%
50%
60%
Somewhat agree
28% 70%
80%
Don't know
90%
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: “Science and technology are too hard for most people to understand�
100%
Disagree
Journalists have high confidence in researchers
Science Journalists Journalists
7%
36%
Researchers
8%
38%
School teachers 4% 12% Swedish public
11% 0%
Completely agree
51%
37%
6%
30% 34%
20% 30% 40%
Largely agree
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4, 2004:4
29%
50% 60% 70% 80%
Somewhat agree
4%
11%
48% 43%
17%
10%
43%
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: “Researchers seem to try new things without paying enough attention to possible risks�
Disagree
4%
11%
9%
90% 100% Don't know
Researchers should not only do “useful” research
13%
Science Journalists Journalists
6%
10%
13%
Teachers
19%
11%
10%
Researchers
80%
17%
15%
0%
Completely agree
10%
60%
26%
26%
Swedish public
62%
43%
20% 20%
Largely agree
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4, 2004:4
30%
40%
23% 50%
60%
Somewhat agree
28% 70%
80%
Don't know
90%
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: “Researchers should only perform research that may lead to useful results”
100%
Disagree
Research is important, even if it does not bring immediately useful results
48%
Journalists
67%
Science journalists
33%
0% Completely agree
20% Largely agree
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4
18%
16%
39%
Journalism students
Swedish public
25%
25%
26%
27%
40%
25%
60%
Somewhat agree
7%
8%
7%
9%
13%
80% Don't know
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: “It is important to spend money on research, even if it is not intended to bring immediately useful results�
100% Disagree
Journalists often use the internet as a resource
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: Where do you get information about science and research?
Read scientific journals or popular science magazines
100% 80%
Ask a researcher
60%
Search the Internet
40%
Use the on-line service "Expertsvar"
20%
Search media archives 0%
Journalists
Source: VA-report 2005:6
Science journalists
Journalism students
Other way
Visits to science & technology museums
Journalists
39%
Science journalists
43%
Journalism students
29%
Swedish public
38%
0%
10%
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4
20%
30%
40%
50%
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: Do you regularly visit museums or exhibitions on science or technology? (Yes)
Journalists are often in contact with researchers Q: Do you, during an average working month, have contact with any of the following?
100%
Researchers at companies
No contacts
90%
80% 66%
63%
58%
60% 34%
40%
32%
27% 17%
20% 4% 0% Journalists
Source: VA-report 2005:6
Science journalists
Journalism students
www.v www.v--a.se
Researchers at Universities
These contacts are within all disciplines
100%
Natural sciences / technology
Social Sciences
Medical science / health
Other subject
80% 60%
72% 51%
56%
55% 46%
44%
20%
44%
38%
40% 11%
52%
9%
11%
0%
Journalists
Source: VA-report 2005:6
Science Journalists
Journalism students
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: What scientific areas do you have research contacts in?
Most contact takes place over the phone Q: How do you normally get in contact with researchers?
100%
Phone
Press conf. or similar
Courses for professionals
96%
93%
89%
82% 80% 66%
61% 60%
53% 40%
36%
40% 20%
30% 9%
15%
33% 11%
www.v www.v--a.se
Meet personally
0% 0%
Journalists
Source: VA-report 2005:6
Science journalists
Journalism students
Journalists have good experiences from their research contacts
(open question)
– Mainly very positive / good – Friendly / nice / helpful / cooperative – Mixed experiences – Little knowledge of how the media works – Not good at using understandable language Source: VA-report 2005:6
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Q: What are your experiences from contacts with researchers?
Comprehensible, accessible information wanted!
– Accessible information – Easily reachable researchers – Knowledge of how journalists work – Website/database with all researchers – Use comprehensible language!
Source: VA-report 2005:6
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Q: In your opinion, is there anything that researchers and research communicators could do which would be useful to you in your work as a journalist? (open question)
Rapid publication important for many journalists
100% 83% 80% 59%
60% 40% 20%
Journalists 45%
36% 35%
Science journalists Swedish public
14%
0% Publish at once Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4, 2004:4
Wait
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Q: Do you think that research results that might be important for people’s health should be published at once, even if only based on a single investigation, or is it better to wait until additional investigations have confirmed the results?
Too many alarmist reports
100% 80%
65%
60%
65% 55% 32%
40%
39%
31%
20% 0% YES
Journalists
NO
Science Journalists
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4
Swedish public
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Q: Research results that might be important for people’s health are sometimes published before they are confirmed or countered by other studies in order to warn people about risks associated with habits and lifestyles. Do you think there are too many so-called alarmist reports published?
Obstacles for satisfactory science reporting
1. Lack of knowledge 2. Lack of time, editorial space, and resources 3. Lack of interest in science (in media) 4. Bad communication with researchers
Source: VA-report 2005:6
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Q: In your opinion, what obstacles are there within the media today to satisfactory reporting of science and research? (open)
Chemistry most scientific – say journalists
Medicine
27%
70% 29%
27%
Philosophy Macroeconomics
21%
Parapsychology
4% 11%
Astrology 4% 7% 0%
5. Most scientific
Source: VA-report 2005:6
31%
33% 22%
20%
4.
11%
30%
12%
4%
62%
13%
10%
4%
21%
74%
Chemistry
73% 30%
3.
40%
2.
50%
60%
70%
1. Not at all
80%
90%
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: To what extent do you regard the following fields as scientific? (All journalists)
100%
Don't know
To what extent do you regard the following fields as scientific?
100% 80%
74%
60%
70% 71% 45%
40%
27%
21% 21%
15%
20%
4% 8%
1% 4%
Journalists
Source: VA-report 2005:6
ho lo gy
Pa ra ps yc
A
st ro lo gy
ic s om Ec on
ph y Ph ilo so
ed ic in e M
C
he m is try
0%
Swedish public
www.v www.v--a.se
(Percentage answering “highly scientific�)
Chemistry
71%
Journalists
83%
Science journalists
13%
75%
Journalism students
45%
Swedish public
0% 5. Highly scientific
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4
20% 4.
3.
19%
27%
40% 2.
4%
23%
60%
20%
80%
1. Not at all scientific
6%
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: To what extent do you regard chemistry as scientific?
100%
Don't know
Philosophy Q: To what extent do you regard philosophy as scientific?
Science journalists
Journalism students
Swedish public
0%
5. Highly scientific
40%
21%
15%
20%
4
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4
3.
40%
2.
60%
7%
12%
30%
34%
23%
24%
27%
43%
12%
31%
27%
27%
15% 5% 4%
80%
1. Not at all scientific
100%
Don't know
www.v www.v--a.se
Journalists
Macroeconomics
20%
Journalists
32%
28%
Science journalists
21%
20%
Journalism students
23%
Teachers
21%
Swedish public
0% 5. Highly scientific
10% 4
3.
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4, 2004:4
2.
12%
36%
9%
41%
28%
9%
37%
31%
6%
33%
20% 30%
31%
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: To what extent do you regard macroeconomics as scientific?
29%
40% 50% 60%
10%
70% 80%
1. Not at all scientific
90% 100%
Don't know
Parapsychology
Journalists 5% 10%
Science journalists
6%
Journalism students 4%
21%
26%
67%
17%
21%
Teachers 4%9%
23%
Swedish public 5% 9%
22%
0%
5. Highly scientific
63%
24%
20%
4.
Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4, 2004:4
55%
30% 40%
3.
38%
2.
32% 60%
1. Not at all
80%
www.v www.v--a.se
Q: To what extent do you regard parapsychology as scientific?
100%
Don't know
Journalists don’t believe in star-signs and mind-reading Q: To what extent do you regard the following fields as scientific?
Swedish public Journalists
8%
9%
4% 7%
19%
25%
37%
13%
73%
Parapsychology Swedish public 4% 9% Journalists
23%
4% 11% 0%
26%
37%
22% 20%
5. Highly scientific Sources: VA-report 2005:6, 2005:4
62% 40%
4.
3.
60%
2.
80%
www.v www.v--a.se
Astrology
100%
1. Not at all scientific
Conclusions
• … have a high level of confidence in researchers • … would like researchers to be more accessible and understandable • … want to find comprehensible information easily
Researchers... • … don’t trust journalists • … don’t always understand journalists / the media?
Journalists and researchers need a better understanding of each others’ perspectives and methods of working
Source: VA-report 2005:6
www.v www.v--a.se
Journalists...
How much science is actually written about?
10% 9% 8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0%
Note: 9% 7%
Percentage of all 6100 article pages analysed
2%
Youth magazines
Source: VA-report 2005:5
Family magazines
Regional newspapers
www.v www.v--a.se
Percentage of science-related articles in material analysed
How often are researchers quoted?
30
Women
25
Men 9
20 15 10
5
5
8
8
Youth magazines
Family magazines
4 16
0
Source: VA-report 2005:5
Regional newspapers
www.v www.v--a.se
8600 pages analysed
Number of persons
What subjects are written about?
14% 42%
Medicine
31% 3% 4%
Social sciences
41% 53% 13%
Psychology
Pseudo science
3% 12% 14% 0% 0%
Youth magazines
Source: VA-report 2005:5
10%
20%
30%
Family magazines
40%
50%
60%
Regional newspapers
www.v www.v--a.se
Percentage of all 6100 article pages analysed
How well is scientific material referenced?
30% 25%
25%
Note: Articles with (claimed) scientific content only.
25%
20% 15% 9%
10% 5% 0%
Youth magazines
Source: VA-report 2005:5
Family magazines
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Percentage of articles with no reference given in the article
Regional newspapers
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All reports can be downloaded from our website: www.v-a.se
Results from the following reports were included in this presentation: 2003:4 – How researchers view public and science (available in English) 2004:4 – How teachers view science (available in English) 2005:4 – How the Swedish public view science 2005 (in Swedish only ) 2005:5 – How journalists view science (English summary available) 2006:6 – Science in press (English summary available)