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The Globalization
of Science Journalism
Towards a Higher Level of Organization?
(October 5, 2004) -
The creation of the European Union of Science Journalists’
Associations (EUSJA) and the International Science Writers Association
(ISWA) are examples of the changes currently reshaping the profession.
More open to the world, these groups are now relying on the World
Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) to reach a new level.
From Europe
One major event that affected the EUSJA was the
opening up of Eastern Europe. Istvan Palugyai, president of the
umbrella association for over 20 groups, says, "It was
interesting to note the differences in science communication between
the Eastern and Western countries. In the Eastern part, the standards
were high because science in the media had strong support from
the politicians, but it was also less developed in terms of communications
technology."
During the 1990s, however, with the rising interest
in market economics and capitalism, support for science communication
lost ground. That’s why the Eastern associations had to strengthen
their ties with the EUSJA. "For Western journalists, the
big challenge was contacting their Eastern colleagues to gain
access to numerous scientific resources." Moreover, since
the EUSJA’s founding in 1971, its member associations have
organized scientific tours to learn about research organizations
throughout the European community.
And the others
Established in 1967 by a core of American, Canadian
and British reporters covering the US space program, the ISWA
now has some 300 members from around the world. The group began
as an informal network for sharing information, contacts, and
even hotel rooms! Its president James Cornell describes the gradual
changes the ISWA went through in the 1970s and 1980s: "Its
membership changed in terms of gender and color as more and more
writers emerged from the Third World. These changes reflect the
evolution in international science writing in general: it’s
a much more widespread and sophisticated discipline, and people
that come into it now have a higher level of education, particularly
in science."
The World Federation of Science Journalists
Now the next major step for the ISWA, EUSJA and
other science journalist associations is to give the World Federation
of Science Journalists a clearly defined mission. Palugyai and
Cornell agree on the WFSJ’s crucial role in developing countries
where there is a tremendous need for professional training. Cornell
also points out that the WFSJ "could serve as a legal
entity that can defend both science writers individually and organizations
in things like copyright infringement, copyright payments, royalty
payments: things that are becoming more international in scope."
In his view, an organization like the WFSJ could carry a lot of
weight.
For Palugyai, "The Federation should be
a very tight umbrella organization because it represents very
different associations (medical, environmental, national and regional
associations) and there are so many interests, sometimes antagonistic,
that it makes it almost impossible to make it stronger. Its principal
aim should be to taking care of organizing world conferences and
training in developing countries." He also stresses the
importance of involvement by members of every association on every
continent that joins the WFSJ. Its success depends on that.
From 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, October 6, share your vision
of science journalism with representatives of European, Asian
and North American associations in the session on The State
of Science Journalism around the World.
Don't miss the SciDev.Net session
on networkingand support for scientific communication in developing
countries (107C) today from 2 to 5:15 p.m. in room Viger C.
Charles Désy
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