Comments on: The Science Writer’s Lament http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/10/the-science-writers-lament/ Progressive approaches to science policy Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:45:30 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Engineer Bob http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/10/the-science-writers-lament/comment-page-1/#comment-5201 Engineer Bob Wed, 13 May 2009 13:33:53 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/10/the-science-writers-lament/#comment-5201 Worse yet is the coverage of Engineering!!! Let me direct you to The Nobel Profession http://www.eng-i.com/BobNobel.asp and "Eyes on the Wrong Prize" http://www.engineerawards.com/ART-EyesontheWrongPrize.html Worse yet is the coverage of Engineering!!!

Let me direct you to

The Nobel Profession

http://www.eng-i.com/BobNobel.asp

and “Eyes on the Wrong Prize”
http://www.engineerawards.com/ART-EyesontheWrongPrize.html

]]> By: Mark Drapeau http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/10/the-science-writers-lament/comment-page-1/#comment-3299 Mark Drapeau Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:24:10 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/10/the-science-writers-lament/#comment-3299 As I have written (http://is.gd/5EqO), I think it has been clear for some time that scientists (and their fans) must be more proactive with various aspects of the media, rather than merely complain. Unfortunately in my experience, most have the latter mindset. As I have written (http://is.gd/5EqO), I think it has been clear for some time that scientists (and their fans) must be more proactive with various aspects of the media, rather than merely complain. Unfortunately in my experience, most have the latter mindset.

]]> By: maria http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/10/the-science-writers-lament/comment-page-1/#comment-3291 maria Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:26:23 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/10/the-science-writers-lament/#comment-3291 This isn't confined to science writers. Education writers are getting cut and not replaced also. Much wider problem. This isn’t confined to science writers. Education writers are getting cut and not replaced also. Much wider problem.

]]> By: Eskimo http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/10/the-science-writers-lament/comment-page-1/#comment-3217 Eskimo Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:13:42 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/10/the-science-writers-lament/#comment-3217 It's been very disappointing as a university science writer to learn that the local newspaper, which I once thought of as a natural partner in informing the public, doesn't want research news AT ALL anymore. As many have noted, the newspaper meltdown has hit the middle class (regional dailies) harder than the elite (NYT/WSJ) or the proles (papers in smaller communities). Keeping the science section is a tough sell: the people who are more likely to care about the loss of their newspaper's science section are also probably more likely to get their fix of science news from a magazine/Web site or the NYT. You might think high school science teachers would be a natural constituency for your effort to keep locally-focused science journalism alive. Perhaps they're too busy already. It’s been very disappointing as a university science writer to learn that the local newspaper, which I once thought of as a natural partner in informing the public, doesn’t want research news AT ALL anymore.

As many have noted, the newspaper meltdown has hit the middle class (regional dailies) harder than the elite (NYT/WSJ) or the proles (papers in smaller communities).

Keeping the science section is a tough sell: the people who are more likely to care about the loss of their newspaper’s science section are also probably more likely to get their fix of science news from a magazine/Web site or the NYT.

You might think high school science teachers would be a natural constituency for your effort to keep locally-focused science journalism alive. Perhaps they’re too busy already.

]]> By: Allison Bland http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/10/the-science-writers-lament/comment-page-1/#comment-3216 Allison Bland Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:57:00 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/10/the-science-writers-lament/#comment-3216 Is it possible that science journalism is caught on the brink between print media and new media more than other disciplines by virtue of its subject matter? You talk about journalists being reduced to part-time bloggers as if it were a downgrade, but I feel that there is huge potential in science blogging that may lead the way for the future of journalism. The future of blogging, too, isn't exclusively in Twitter-like sound bites. I think the transition is the main challenge, in which there is a gap between medium and audience that journalists are forced to straddle. Is it possible that science journalism is caught on the brink between print media and new media more than other disciplines by virtue of its subject matter? You talk about journalists being reduced to part-time bloggers as if it were a downgrade, but I feel that there is huge potential in science blogging that may lead the way for the future of journalism. The future of blogging, too, isn’t exclusively in Twitter-like sound bites. I think the transition is the main challenge, in which there is a gap between medium and audience that journalists are forced to straddle.

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