Science journalists discuss purpose, challenges in a changing environment
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 11/09/2007
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Youtube competes with serious science journalism.
An executive editor at IEEE publications, Glenn Zorpette, made the assertion to an audience of about 25 Thursday evening in Lawson Computer Science Building during Purdue University's second annual Science Journalism Laureates program. Zorpette was one of 16 science journalists who was asked to comment in 200 words on the current challenges of science journalism. Zorpette said Internet content can be amusing but undermines serious journalism.
The senior editor of the Chronicle of Higher Education, Jeff Young, said the Internet is important because it reaches new audiences that might never turn to the science pages.
"There's many forms of journalism. There is a place for Youtube videos and a place for serious material," Young said.
Purdue alumna Moira Gunn, a founding laureate, said the role of a science journalist was to present incomprehensible information to the unwilling.
"The key to learning science is relevancy," Gunn said.
The event was the second annual Science Journalism Laureates Program. The laureates had the opportunity to interact with the Purdue community and with students and professors during the week.
Jeffrey Vitter, dean of the College of Science, said, "Interaction with students is a key role." The program was initiated to help build a global community to share science journalism with a diverse audience.
"(Science journalists) are filling a national need. We need their work. We rely on their work," Vitter said.
Six new science journalism laureates were honored this year and the 10 founding laureates from 2006 were also recognized. The event is sponsored by 15 different organizations.