Science Journalism as an Academic Discipline: the Fusion of Western Media and Science seen from a Literary and Social Perspective

Abstract

Science Journalism addresses the intersection of two major spheres of Western culture: natural sciences and mass media. And both can be said to share the same ultimate goal: to seek the truth and make it public. On the other hand, Science Journalism is a creative writing between Natural and Social Sciences and, as a profession, is the perfect bridge between the two cultures –scientific and literary- defined by C.P. Snow. It is therefore, a rich discipline in every aspect, but also one that involves a great deal of conceptual and procedural complexity. Journalism is the craft of creative writing, and initially, science also adapted a literary style. Scientific Journalism deals exclusively with Natural Science, but with a Social Sciences point of view. It requires similar standards and guidelines, such as those used by scientists -physicists, chemists, biologists and geologists- for a journalist to approach the facts. In scientific journalism it is important to define what is theory in Natural Science as opposed to the Social Sciences. “Science” journalism deals with information that comes exclusively from discoveries and facts. Science journalism, as a profession, is the perfect bridge between these two cultures: scientific and literary. A science journalist has more close contact with scientists -and their scientific results- than a sociologist or philosopher of science. But at the same time, journalism is a literary genre itself