Posts tagged ‘science journalism’
“A dramatic image can change our perception and alter our understanding of a subject”…at least that’s the driving thought process behind the Blue Earth Alliance project. This site attempts to create public awareness about various global issues through photographic storytelling and includes images and blog posts covering important topics such as:
- endangered cultures
- conservation
- threatened environments
- other social concerns
What I find particularly interesting about this site is the wide range of issues covered. Digging through the archives of the site, you can find images and articles on subjects such as Inca plants to disappearing cultures, and from the Israel and Palestine conflict to climate change in Glacier National Park (pictured below). Just one of the stories featured discusses and displays recent work of Amazon Rain forest inhabitants with the Amazon Headwaters. The photographer attempts to find a particular focus on the women and children’s role in this preservation effort. There are many images that display different aspects of the work and represent them in interesting angles and approaches. The various photographers on the other issues also do a great job representing an impressive variety of images on the topics they are approaching. Overall, I really enjoy the different angles they bring to the subjects.
Recently I read an intriguing op-ed article on science journalism in The New York Times. Writer and infamous eco-advocate, Andy Revkin discussed the importance of science journalists on science. Check out the article here: Can Scientists Learn from Science Journalists?
Revkin credits Maggie Koerth-Baker, science editor of BoingBoing.net for encouraging scientists to communicate effectively with other humans. Last year Baker served as a “guest lecturer” in the SAGE Weston Lecture Series at UW-Madison on February 24. Even though it’s now September you can watch the lecture online and see the accompanied slides here if you wish: UW- Sage Lecture Series
Andrew Revkin
-In his article, Revkin sums up the main points of the lecture. As according to Koerth-Baker, these are the “six things scientists can learn from journalists.”
- Show, don’t tell
- Don’t just talk, ask.
- People know more (and less) than you think.
- Not everything is news.
- Be critical of your own work.
- Mistakes last, but pedantry kills.
