The challenges of scientific journalism according to Mexican university professors, newspaper directors and heads of research
| Published date | 10 October 2017 |
| Pages | 503-517 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-04-2017-0026 |
| Date | 10 October 2017 |
| Author | Aixchel Cordero-Hidalgo,Javier Tarango,Claudia-Patricia Contreras,José Refugio Romo-González |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library & information services |
The challenges of scientific
journalism according to Mexican
university professors, newspaper
directors and heads of research
Aixchel Cordero-Hidalgo,Javier Tarango,
Claudia-Patricia Contreras and José Refugio Romo-González
Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, Autonomous University of Chihuahua,
Chihuahua, Mexico
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to determine the challenges of scientific literacy that scientific
journalismcan promote or suppressas a scientific disseminationactivity. To ensure that universitiestransfer
knowledge to society, this vital activity is studied from the perspectives of their stakeholders: professors,
researchers,newspaper directors and heads of researchareas of two Mexican universities.
Design/methodology/approach –From a participatory action research perspective that consisted in
applying semi-structured interviews, this study was conducted in two public universities in Chihuahua,
Mexico. The group of participants constituted of a random sample of 90 Mexican professors, taken from a
population of 246 subjects with the status of nationalresearchers (confidence level = 95 per cent; margin of
error = 5 per cent; P/Q correlation= 90 / 10 per cent), in addition to six local newspaper executivesand eight
researchmanagers at participating universities.
Findings –Evidence suggests that scientific dissemination has a low social impact, its recognition by
universitiesand scientific evaluation institutions is limited, and the act of makingscientific content accessible
to the general public is highly complex, especially when it comes to content related to the exact sciences.
These results are predictable under the complex models that evaluate scientific production, because the
measurement indicators that define scientific competitiveness levels prioritize specific scientific products
other thandissemination products such as newspaperarticles.
Research limitations/implications –Data were collected from two Mexican public universitiesunder
the implication that the behavior identified throughdata analysis can occur in other similar environments.
Although a participatoryaction research perspective was assumed, and becausethis research of a projective
nature can be a part of a larger research, no particular actions or interventions were planned or executed,
apart from the interviews that aimed to collect data that emerged from participants’own practice and
experienceson the issues studied. Further research can consist of developing forward-lookingactions that can
contribute to the development of scientific literacy, as well as to the exploration and solution of the issues
identifiedthrough participants’own practice.
Originality/value –One of the social roles of universities is to ensure that scientific knowledge reaches all
citizens. However, there are not sufficient studies regarding scientific dissemination, especially from the
perspective of professors as generators of scientific knowledge, newspaper directors and heads of research areas.
Keywords Public awareness of science, Scientificculture,Scientific dissemination, Scientific journalism,
Scientific literacy, Social contributions from universities
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Some university tasks focus on generating critical thinking and creating opportunities for
participation in communities, as well as communicating to society and analyzing the
Challenges of
scientific
journalism
503
Received19 April 2017
Revised14 July 2017
Accepted14 July 2017
Informationand Learning Science
Vol.118 No. 9/10, 2017
pp. 503-517
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2398-5348
DOI 10.1108/ILS-04-2017-0026
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