The Public Engagement of Science on the Web

Ask a journalist, and they’ll most likely say that scientists are contrary, stubborn and awkward interviewees. Ask a scientist, and probably they will complain that journalists have no understanding of scientists’ working condition or the problems you encounter as a researcher if you are misquoted in the media.

This discussion arises from time to time (one of its biggest installments ever took place on Scienceblogs last summer), and its content seems to change but little between countries. Its most recent Swedish incarnation takes place on the blogs of journalist Anders Mildner (1st, 2nd), archaeologist Åsa Larsson - and on my blog (here and here).

I mentioned this problem briefly in my PCST session presentation, and argued that blogging would be a solution for the researcher (who would no longer have to fear being misquoted, or in vain try to persuade a journalist to let them into a newspaper/magazine/TV- or radio show). Mildner also argues that more researchers should use social media to reach out to the public.

I am not sure it solves the underlying conflict of interest, however. And how would it help the journalists?