An assessment of the state of science journalism in Namibia : A case study of the Namibian, Namibian sun, and New Era newspapers

Science journalism is a form of reporting that conveys news about science-related topics in a simplified manner. Fields vary from health, environmental and animal science, amongst others. As this field gradually broadens, the duty of science journalists to communicate verified information to ordinary citizens has been amplified. Equally, this underpins the need for scientists to communicate their work to the public, and take their work beyond academic circles to the layman. This is often done by science journalists who have the expertise to report scientific news in a fashion that is less technical. The main objectives of the study were to assess the criteria used by the Namibian print media to determine the newsworthiness of science news, and to determine the challenges and opportunities for the media in the science journalism field. Furthermore, the study sought to examine the perceptions that scientists have of the media. The study aimed to contribute to bridging the gap between scientists and the public. This thesis includes an analysis of qualitative data collected from newspaper editors from Namibia’s main newspapers. In addition, quantitative data were collected from scientists in different fields. The key findings revealed that there is a communication gap between journalists and scientists, stemming from mistrust and generally the lack of appreciation for each other’s profession, which ultimately has an effect on the public’s consumption of science news. It is recommended that various activities and tools be put in place to strengthen relations between the media and scientists and ensure accuracy in the popularisation of science

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Namibia

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Brandt, Kudakwangu

• Science journalism
• Layman
• Newspapers
• Public education

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11070/3735

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.unam.edu.na:11070/3735