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iTunes LinkEpisode 136 (BONUS) - How Science Journalists Go from Scientists to the Public
Recap: I briefly spoke with two of the science journalists who are embedded within NASA's New Horizons team for the spacecraft's flyby of the Pluto-Charon system. I asked them how they work to convert the complicated and technical science into something the public can digest and get excited about.
Disclaimer: While I am involved in the New Horizons mission, my podcast work (and anything branded under "Exposing PseudoAstronomy") is completely separate from my work efforts. The views and opinions expressed on this episode are completely my own and don't reflect NASA, other mission personnel, nor Southwest Research Institute.
Additional Materials:
- References:
- Logical Fallacies / Critical Thinking Terms addressed in this episode: None Addressed
- Relevant Posts on my "Exposing PseudoAstronomy" Blog
Episode Summary
There is no transcript because this was a live interview.
Premable: Something unique about New Horizons is that we have embedded science journalists who are responsible for taking what we the scientists are doing, and they have to convert it to something that the general public can easily understand and appreciate.
Something that often comes up in skepticism is how bad the non-science-dedicated media is in its reporting of science, and so I wanted to sit down with these professionals and ask them how they do it, how they really work very hard to be both accurate with the science, not do something we're uneasy with, but at the same time work to get the public interested, engaged, and informed about what we're doing.
This was recorded in an open room where there were lots of people working, coming, and going, so the audio isn't the best, but I think it's a very informative - if brief - discussion.
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