Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS) - Aarhus University’s Post

Curious to learn more about uptake of scientific research in news outlets? Be sure to read this paper by Aike Vonk, which Erik van Sebille and me had the pleasure of collaborating on. The publication is open access and can be found in Journalism Studies.

In coming months, I will be taking on leadership as editor of Teaching Journalism & Mass Communication, a peer-reviewed journal launched many years ago by the Small Programs Interest Group in the Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication. If you teach journalism, media, communications or any other discipline that involves these, check out this journal. (Better yet, pitch a paper, essay or book review!)

Scientific method meets journalism! Very interesting approach, I like it https://lnkd.in/dX6zaTae

READ: Science journalism is about taking complex academic research and turning it into easy-to-read content that is still accurate. Aside from informing readers through evidence-based journalism, it aims to make the wider public curious about scientific research. https://lnkd.in/dREw7fKz

!DEADLINE EXTENDED! THE SJAA SCIENCE JOURNALIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM The deadline for applications for the inaugural SJAA Science Journalist in Residence program has been extended by one week. The new deadline for applications is 11:59pm AEDT on December 1. If this is your first time hearing about the Science Journalist in Residence program... you might need a little more information.   *** WHAT IS THE SCIENCE JOURNALIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM? The Science Journalists Association of Australia is partnering with The University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) for a first-of-its-kind journalism residency program for Australian science journalists. This partnership is offering a paid stay for a practising journalist with at least 3 years' experience who focuses on science, health, technology, and environment reporting. The ‘Science Journalist-in-Residence’ (SJiR) can stay for three months (or up to a maximum of four months) to engage with our scientists and gain insight into our research.  In this initial pilot program, created with funding from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund, only Australian citizens and permanent residents are able to apply. The SJiR will need to complete their residency within the window of January 31 and May 31, 2025. You do not need to be a member of the SJAA to apply (but we would love it if you were). This pilot is modelled on the long-running science journalist in residence program offered by the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS). This model also forms the basis of the ERC Frontiers programme. OBJECTIVE OF THE SJiR PROGRAM The goal of the program is to give journalists a chance to better understand several areas of research at IMB and to deepen their technical knowledge without the pressure of daily or weekly deadlines. During their time at IMB, it’s hoped the SJiR will develop bold new projects or formats, find new or untold stories, learn more about current research, or search for new ways to contribute to science journalism. Moreover, this program is designed to encourage greater dialogue between journalists and researchers. By giving the SJiR a space inside IMB to work alongside scientists, it’s hoped both parties will gain a greater understanding of one another’s fields, sparking innovative ways to engage researchers and the public with science journalism and opening up new pathways for collaboration. STIPEND AND FUNDING The SJiR will receive funding of $7000 per month for four months or $9300 per month for three months. The funding does not cover GST, the SJiR is responsible for administering and paying any tax obligations. A maximum of $2,700 will be provided for domestic travel expenses to and from Brisbane for the stay and for initial short-term accommodation costs, with written prior agreement and via reimbursement. All other travel expenses and accommodation costs are covered by the monthly stipend. More info in link in the comments ⬇

One journalism organization will take home the International Fact-Checking Network’s inaugural award for Best Research, to be conferred June 28 at the 11th annual GlobalFact conference in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. To qualify for the award, organizations must have conducted vigorous research that significantly advanced the understanding of misinformation and its effects. Unlike other awards, which only award journalism produced in the past year, the Best Research award was open to any work conducted in the past decade. The six nominated organizations span three continents, and topics range from war-time fact-checking to various ways artificial intelligence can be used in fact-checking: https://lnkd.in/emM35aj4 

How and to what extent does Nordic journalism education prepare future journalists to cover climate change? This is the question I, together with four Nordic colleagues, have explored in this newly published paper. Through a content analysis of course syllabi from 22 journalism schools in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland (n=751), we found that only a small number of syllabi (26) mention climate change, the environment, or sustainability. However, there seems to be a growing trend with some institutions planning to introduce courses dedicated to climate change and sustainability. Through interviews with programme heads and teachers from eight of the journalism schools, we argue that the (lack of) integration of climate into the curricula highlights differing perceptions of climate change—ranging from viewing it as a news beat like any other to recognising it as a discipline requiring specialised knowledge and skills. I am very proud to have written this article, the first in this special issue on climate change journalism education, with the excellent colleagues Gøril Borgen-Eide, Henrik Bodker, Maarit Jaakkola and Kristina Riegert. https://lnkd.in/d5EKjcYz

New publication alert: co-authored a paper with Laura Glitsos, published now in Journalism and Media, to address a seemingly simple issue: journalists are actual human beings, with bodies and feelings. Having a body matters in what people do and how people make sense of anything. So why is this straightforward issue almost completely absent from the entirety of the academic literature on journalism? And what are we missing when ignoring the body? In this paper, we bring the body back in. We talk about how precariousness feels, what it means to journalists to be attacked for doing their work, and how the dehumanization intrinsic to the objectivity ideal hurts their ability to truly take a human interest. Open access!

Does a homogony of humanities graduates hold journalism back? Simon Kuper's excellent piece in last weekend's FT Magazine highlights two conditions that prevent contemporary journalism’s ability to report on what matters: Firstly, the journalists who set the global news agenda speak English, are well-educated and well-paid, live in New York or London, and usually have arts degrees. He argues that these conditions (particularly a lack of scientific training) create a bias away from the difficult stories that significantly impact humanity in the long term: climate change, food poverty. Secondly, digital transformation has reorientated news toward its audience and away from its core purpose; to inform. Editors know what you’re reading and how long you’re reading to the second, but directing coverage to appease your readership fails to execute the first principle of reporting. In recent years, more universities have offered journalism courses combined with economics and science modules. The development of data journalism has helped major news outlets cover big-picture stories in an engaging and informative form. I’d be interested to hear whether journalists feel reframing the industry toward first principles is necessary and whether the pressure to persuade and fixate eyeballs is an accepted inconvenience.

Attending the 2024 Science Journalism Forum (SJF 24) was a transformative experience that enhanced my understanding of the evolving relationship between science and communication. The theme, "Transforming Narratives: Reshaping the Landscape of Science Journalism," permeated the sessions, highlighting how emerging technologies are changing storytelling and audience engagement. One major takeaway was the crucial role of digital platforms in sharing scientific information and the necessity of fully understanding the science before communicating it. Effective messaging is essential in this context. Panel discussions emphasized the need for journalists to adapt their approaches by utilizing multimedia tools and data visualization to improve comprehension and accessibility. Insights from industry leaders offered valuable perspectives on crafting narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. The forum also explored the ethical challenges posed by new technologies in journalism. As AI and social media influence public discourse, we discussed the importance of maintaining journalistic integrity and building trust in an age of misinformation. Notably, some sessions were held in languages other than English, enabling participants to engage in their native languages, a unique aspect of this year's forum. SJF 24 underscored the need for flexibility and proactivity among science journalists, encouraging us to embrace change while upholding rigorous reporting standards. This experience has equipped me with new strategies to better inform and engage my audience, ensuring that scientific narratives remain both informative and impactful. I eagerly anticipate SJF 25! #SJF24