Scientist–Journalist Relations

Alan H. McGowan

The relationships between scientists and journalists are nuanced and complicated and have a somewhat tortured history. Although these days, most universities and science organizations have active press rooms and send out daily press releases that are seeking stories to be written about the science done in their institutions, this was not always the case. Through the 1970s, it was considered anathema to a scientist's career, particularly a young scientist seeking tenure, to be quoted in the popular media. There are still those who feel that a scientist's job is to do science, not talk to journalists. However, there is now a growing consensus that the public must be better informed about the discoveries, medical and otherwise, than they are currently, and that the scientific community has a responsibility to aid in the task of creating a public that is familiar with science and is capable of making judgments on scientific ...

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