Science has key role to play in development of Africa – Writers, Researchers
-
Loading... - Emmanuel Landry
- 30 Aug 2022
- 70 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
Leading science writers and researchers have called on African countries to integrate a triad of approaches to improve public understanding of science as a key factor for the continent’s development.
At a webinar, “Beyond S/He Said: Basics of reporting in the context of scientific research,” panelists and participants emphasised the need for journalists and media organisations to enhance the nexus between scientists and the general public to tackle policy implementation lapses at critical moments such as response to epidemics and other public health emergencies.
The Africa Science Journalism Webinar is aimed at creating linkages between scientific research institutes, the media and the general public for improved reportage and public understanding of science and public health issues in African countries. Such linkages will prepare the continent for strategic responses to epidemics and other emerging infectious diseases like Ebola, COVID-19 and Monkeypox. “We need to be more prepared in our response to epidemics and in the dissemination of fact-based information to the public, says Paul Adepoju, a freelance science writer and Community Manager at the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ).
Adepoju encourages journalists to broaden their horizons and “make the best out of the resources you have and be open-minded. Science stories can make front pages in as much as your story is touching the lives of people.”
Ms. Jackie Okpara-Fatoye, one of the facilitators, from SciDev.Net, states that science journalism is a specialized field and “an integral part of journalism which should take the center stage in African journalism. Science stories are not necessarily the most explosive but have one of the greatest impacts. Many problems can be found in research papers as well as their solutions. Science reporting is solution journalism”, she adds.
Diran Onifade, former Vice President of the World Federation of Science Journalists and Publisher of Africa Science, Technology and Innovation (AfricaSTI) stated that the webinar was in continuation of the implementation of findings from a study jointly conducted by Development Communications Network (DevComs), AfricaSTI and partners in three African countries. The project, funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF (COVID-19: Strategic Media Engagement for Public Understanding of Scientific Research, Infectious/Non-Infectious Diseases), provides a platform for enhancing the triad of collaboration between the media (journalists/media institutions, scientists and the general public for proactive policy dialogue on science and development on the continent. Read More...
