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Two Chairs in Science Journalism
in Canada
(October 8, 2004) -
Very few educational institutions in our large country offer courses
in science journalism. To fill that gap, two unique chairs were
created in Canada: the Chaire de journalisme scientifique Bell
Globemedia at Université Laval and the CTV Chair
in Science Broadcast Journalism at Carleton University. The
courses or seminars they offer are intended to make students familiar
with how the world of science works.
"There’s more journalism than science
in the phrase ‘science journalism’," says Kathryn
O’Hara, who holds the CTV Chair. In fact, in her view, this
kind of journalism should go beyond just popularizing science.
Writers have to be critical of the science world. "This
type of journalism is the hardest I know," says O’Hara.
So why do communication departments have such a
lukewarm interest in that kind of writing? O'Hara attributes it
to the recent history of scientific research in Canada. "The
countries that invest the most in scientific research are also
the ones with the most science journalists," she said.
So countries such as the United States, where research is thriving,
have a number of science journalism programs.
Marie-Hélène
Verville
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