Re: Educating Journalists

[Karin Gordon <kgordon@cc.UManitoba.CA>]

I am a university hospital radiation safety officer (background: formal training  as a 
technologist in diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy.)  My 
eldest daughter is currently in journalism school at Kings College University in Nova 
Scotia - after attaining her BA (English) and BSc (Biology major with courses in 
physics, chemistry, statistics, genetics, molecular biology, etc). She had always 
wanted to be a science journalist, so I was _quite insistent_ that she formally study 
science (minimum - a BSc) a prior to going into journalism.  What is interesting is 
that she is the only journalism student in her class with any kind of science 
background.  How many of them will eventually report on science-related stories is 
anyone's guess!!  Most people who enter journalism do so because of their interest in 
writing and broadcasting - and their educational history rarely includes much science. 

It seems to me that journalism schools (particularly those that have science journalism 
programs) should be seeking for certain fraction of their candidates to have a science 
background. Those Radsafers with positions in universities that have journalism 
programs could perhaps lobby the journalism faculty for that emphasis in the selection 
of journalsim students.

I realize that my personal "Grow Your Own" science-literate journalist initiative is 
not possible for many of the folks on the Radsafe mailing list, but it's a start.  If 
you have a child interested in print or broadcast journalism, do whatever you can to 
interest them in studying science first. 

By the way, I forwarded Elaine Marshalls note to my daughter, suggesting that she 
obtain several copies, one for herself, and a couple for her journalism school library 
- and bring the publication to the attention of her profs.


Cheerio-

Karin Gordon, RSO
Health Sciences Centre
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
kgordon@cc.umanitoba.ca


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Elaine Marshall wrote:
> 
> REGARDING                Educating Journalists
> 
> Sometime ago, I came across a small book (only 50 pages) entitled The
> Journalist's Guide to Nuclear Energy which was published through the U.S.
> Council for Energy Awareness and written by E. Edelson, a scientific
> journalist.  The second edition, of which I have a copy, was published in
> 1988, three years after the first.  I am not aware if there have been
> subsequent editions or even if the organization still exists.   Although
> dedicated primarily to reactors, the book does address radiation, waste
> management, accidents, and transportation.  I have found this reference to be
> useful and from my perspective factual without getting into too much technical
> jargon and detail.
> 
> For what it may be worth, the address on the back of the book is:
> U.S. Council for Energy Awareness
> Suite 400
> 1776 I Street, N.W.
> Washington, DC  20006-2495
> (202)293-0770