Defending Good Science

May 1, 2003

Why Science and Journalism Just Don’t Mix

It’s a common complaint amongst the scientific community – how come the media can’t just report the news? Why is good science twisted around and just portrayed wrong?

For every story about environmental stewardship in the agriculture community, you find 10 detailing the evils of biotechnology. For every story regarding an advance in the chemical field, you can find 10 about the dangers of a new group of pesticides. Why doesn’t a good scientific advance ever make headlines?

Unfortunately, the science process just isn’t ‘news friendly.’ The scientific process is a careful, laborious one, dictated by baby step after baby step. And quite often, those baby steps may not be in the direction of the end product.

Fraught with trial and error, all in the name of progress, it’s easy to get lost in confusion. An average consumer may truly believe that plant-based biotechnology is about inserting salmon genes into tomatoes. Is there a scientist somewhere working at transplanting a fish into a tomato plant? Maybe. Is that what is being presented to consumers today? No - but it’s tough for the biotechnology industry to refute the claim when indeed, there may be salmon genes inside a tomato somewhere.

Why stick a fish gene into a tomato? Who knows… perhaps it has something to do with increased resistance to pests. Maybe it means the tomato needs less water, or packs easier in transport. Such is the nature of the scientific process - a long and meandering series of baby steps, inching ever closer towards a goal of common good.

Unfortunately, “Science is a series of baby steps, working ever closer towards the goal of common good” makes a lousy sound bite. But Greenpeace protesters yelling through a bullhorn at the front gates of an aquaculture site, “Stop Frankenfoods – don’t put salmon in my tomatoes” makes a GREAT sound bite.

(Editors note – just for the record, there are absolutely NO companies offering a tomato with salmon genes for sale in North America. It’s just an example - relax.)

Another challenge for the defence of good science includes the journalists themselves, who often don’t have a scientific background. If a particular publication actually has a ‘Science Editor,’ that reporter’s background may be in a completely unrelated discipline. Chances are good that if your neighbour doesn’t know what gene-transfer is, any reporter won’t either. It’s tough to make a pitch about a great ‘scientific discovery’ if a reporter doesn’t understand the technology, and the implications involved.

And while scientific journals and publications are a valuable resource, they hinder the odds on a ‘good piece of science news’ actually making it into the New York Times or Toronto Star. If a reporter does some research into a particular development, only to hear, “Oh yeah – that was in ‘Environmental Science and Engineering’ last month,” the reporter will quickly lose interest. Their job is to report the news – it’s easy to lose track of the fact that while less than 1% of the population has ever heard of this particular product, in a reporters mind, it’s not ‘news’ anymore.

What’s the answer? There is no silver bullet. But like any good communications initiative, the challenge for science-based industry is to break something into bite-size, manageable chunks. In essence – dumb it down. If your neighbour doesn’t understand it, don’t expect it to make it into the news on your terms. And the last thing you want is to see your product portrayed by Greenpeace’s terms.

Checkmate Link of the Month

Dr. Patrick Moore was the co-founder of Greenpeace, and served for nine years as President of Greenpeace Canada and seven years as a Director of Greenpeace International. He left the organization, feeling that it has strayed too far from its roots.

Dr. Moore is working on a new initiative, much to the chagrin of organizations like Greenpeace – check out http://www.treesaretheanswer.com. In essence, when sustainably grown wood is used as a substitute for non-renewable materials and fossil fuels there is generally a reduction in energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste production. Moore is persuading governments to pass forestry-friendly initiatives.

Moore has crossed horns with Greenpeace many times – hopefully this initiative will teach governments that true environmentalism doesn’t come at the end of a picket sign.

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