How journalists view science - science in the press

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).

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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%

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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%

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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

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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%

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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%

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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%

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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

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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

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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%

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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

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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

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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

E-mail

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%

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)