The Global Science Journalism Report 2021, published by SciDev.Net to mark its 20th anniversary, surveys 633 science journalists from 77 countries and examines how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their work and practices. The survey found that work had become "more intense": 64 per cent of respondents said the number of projects they worked on in a week had risen in the past five years. Typically, reporters work on one article or package over two weeks, but women — who made up 54 per cent of respondents — were more likely to be working on five assignments in the same period.
Views about the profession were mixed. Forty-six per cent said they were happy with their jobs, and 81 per cent expected they would certainly or probably remain in the field for the next five years. Almost three quarters did not agree that "science journalism is a dying profession"; about one third thought the field was in crisis and a similar share disagreed. The report is the first Global Science Journalism survey since 2013.
The study was co-led by the Brazilian Institute of Public Communication of Science and Technology/House of Oswaldo Cruz, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the ISCTE‑Lisbon University Institute, in partnership with the World Federation of Science Journalists. It found that 55 per cent of respondents used pre-print material in COVID-19 stories rather than waiting for peer review. The most used sources were peer-reviewed journals, official institutions and scientists, who many journalists said had been more available and open during the pandemic.
Respondents reported coverage focused on environment, technology, health and medicine, and climate change. Many noted that more press releases combined with newsroom budget cuts can lower standards, and 71 per cent agreed that too few people report on the process of science rather than its results. SciDev.Net will mark its anniversary with an online event featuring a debate among the report's authors followed by a virtual networking session.
Difficult words
- survey — a study asking people about their experiencessurveys
- respondent — a person who answers questions in a studyrespondents
- pre-print — a research paper shared before formal peer review
- peer review — evaluation of research by other experts
- coverage — news reporting about a particular subject
- press release — official statements sent to media about newspress releases
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What are the possible benefits and risks of using pre-print material in news stories, based on the article?
- How could newsroom budget cuts affect the quality of science coverage in your country or community?
- The survey found many journalists expect to stay in the field. What reasons mentioned in the article might explain this expectation?
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