Place of Science in Media

chillibreeze writer — Dr. Abhijit Mazumdar

Media reporting, from the days of yore, has inadvertently revolved around politics, society and sports---from breaking news to the mundane---science thereby attaining minuscule coverage in the process. However, of late, media has realized that science, especially applied fields of research for human welfare, is paramount. To this end various media groups have started covering science issues of human interest, tempering them to be lucid, comprehensible and as much as possible, stripped of technical jargon. A wider coverage of science will not only educate people on issues apropos of important issues but also inculcate scientific temper among the youth.

In the print media not many cover science the way The Hindu, Down to Earth and Reader's Digest do; covering an entire gamut of issues ranging from environment to pollution and health. Leading news dailies have, at times, a full page devoted to science. However, a slew of such articles deal with latest gadgets and gizmos and a few more seek to titillate by elucidating on issues like romance and their effects on humans, which at best are pedestrian.

More importantly, the electronic sector has, till date, had an apathy towards science, limiting their shows to latest cars and bikes in the name of science. The recipient of Bhatnagar Award for best research will find a passing mention as against a flimsy yet sensational story. Media sector may assume covering science issues as quixotic, however, they may draw a lesson from National Geographic and Green TV channels that are singular in that they only cover ecology, environment and wild life.

Ideally, keeping in mind, the ills of modern lifestyle and the idyllic ways of our young professionals it would be a blessing in disguise to have features on healthy living, nutrition, sleep habits, yoga and aerobics. It must be underscored that the science articles must be comprehensible to the erudite as well as the common man.

Most pressing areas needing public awareness are AIDA and global warming, which should be given priority; a concerted effort by media and others can alleviate the already grim situation.

A largely untouched area is that of research taking place in oriental and occidental countries such as those on stem cells that will, in due course of time, be the elixir for a range of illnesses that are not quite treatable, for instance renal failure. Science reporting can actuate young minds to tie up science as a career option.

A beginning has been made in the domain of science journalism, however, to beget scientific fervor among the youth and espouse the cause of science, we have miles to go before we see the benign effects of media coverage percolating into every strata of populace. The need of the hour is to engender a shift in media paradigm to veer from the sensational to the scientific and educational.

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Dr. Abhijit writes for chillibreeze.

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