Thesis (MPhil) -- Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: When reporting on new research or claims by scientists, the science journalist faces a
number of pitfalls. For a number of reasons the journalist might produce a story which is
inaccurate or misleading. Thus, when a scientist claims to have found a cure for cancer,
the journalist needs to check himself before delivering the story.
In this paper I will examme a number of issues concerning the reporting of frontier
science, or new research. In this realm it is particularly difficult to distinguish more
reliable science from less reliable science. The problem is compounded by the vested
interests of scientists, pharmaceutical companies and other interest groups. What the
science journalist writes, influences public opinion, conceptions about science, and often
affects people's decision-making regarding medical issues. There is thus a clear ethical
aspect to science reporting.
I will try to show that an understanding of how science works is crucial to reporting
science responsibly. In this regard the distinction between frontier and textbook science is
of particular importance. Theoretical distinctions such as these provide useful tools for
the interpretation of claims from the frontier.
The first chapter, then, will deal with theoretical concepts pertaining to how SCIence
works. In the second we will examine a number of examples of how reporting from the
frontiers can go wrong. We will argue that a better understanding of science might have
prevented many of the inaccuracies and misleading claims examined.
In chapter three we will attempt to list what can go wrong, and examine some of the
possible consequences, thus outlining the ethical aspect of science reporting. Finally we
will make a few suggestions and outline some guidelines which might contribute to more
accurate and responsible reporting from the frontiers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wanneer daar oor nuwe navorsing of aansprake deur wetenskaplikes berig moet word,
word die wetenskapsverslaggewer gekonfronteer deur 'n aantal moontlike slaggate. Om
verskeie redes kan daar onakkuraat of misleidend verslag gedoen word. Wanneer 'n
wetenskaplike dus berig dat daar 'n kuur vir kanker gevind is, moet die joernalis homself
eers aan sekere beginsels herinner.
In hierdie skrywe sal ek 'n aantal kwessies te doen met die beriggewing van
pionierswetenskap, of nuwe wetenskap, ondersoek. Op hierdie terrein is dit veral moeilik
om tussen betroubare en minder betroubare wetenskap te onderskei. Die probleem word
vererger deur die belange van wetenskaplikes, farmaseutiese maatskappye en ander
belangegroepe. Dit wat deur die wetenskapsjoernalis berig word, beïnvloed publieke
opinie en beskouings oor die wetenskap, en raak dikwels mense se besluitneming rakende
mediese kwessies. Daar is dus 'n duidelike etiese aspek aan wetenskapsverslaggewing
verbonde.
Ek gaan poog om te wys dat 'n begrippnj van hoe wetenskap werk, onmisbaar is vir
verantwoordelike wetenskapsverslaggewing. In hierdie verband is die onderskeid tussen
pioniers- en handboekwetenskap van besondere belang. Teoretiese onderskeide soos dié
verskaf bruikbare gereedskap VIr die interpretasie van aansprake uit die
pionierswetenskap.
In die eerste hoofstuk sal 'n aantal teoretiese konsepte oor die werking van wetenskap
verduidelik word. In die tweede hoofstuk sal 'n aantal voorbeelde van waar
verslaggewing van [N4]pionierswetenskap verkeerd geloop het, bespreek word. Ek gaan
argumenteer dat In beter begrippisj van wetenskap moontlik baie van dié onakkuraathede
en misleidende aansprake sou kon voorkom het.
Hoofstuk drie sal dan poog om te lys wat verkeerd kan gaan, en sal sommige van die
moontlike gevolge ondersoek. Hierdeur sal die etiese aspek van
wetenskapsverslaggewing dus uitgestippel word. Aan die einde sal ek 'n paar voorstelle maak, en probeer om riglyne uit te stip wat kan bydra tot meer akkurate en
verantwoordelike verslaggewing van pionierswetenskap.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/49806 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Low, Marcus |
| Contributors | Claassen, G., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Journalism. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 66 pages |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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