Analysis of Gender and Regional Disparities in Science Journalism Coverage

Conceitos Básicos

Science journalism exhibits gender and regional disparities in the representation of quoted speakers and cited authors compared to the demographics of scientific publishing.

Resumo

The study analyzed 22,001 news articles published by Nature from 2005 to 2020 to examine potential biases in science journalism. The key findings are:

Gender Disparities:

Quotes from people predicted to be men were initially overrepresented compared to the proportion of first and last authors predicted to be men in Nature papers. However, this gap has been decreasing over time, with the "Career Feature" column achieving gender parity in quoted speakers.
The gender disparity in quotes was dependent on the article type, with some types like "Career Feature" reaching parity.

Regional Disparities:

There was a significant over-representation of names with predicted Celtic/English origin and under-representation of names with a predicted East Asian origin in both quotes and citations, compared to the demographics of authors in Nature and Springer Nature papers.
The disparity in quotes from people with predicted East Asian name origins was larger than the disparity in citations, suggesting issues in the source gathering process beyond just citing published works.
Journalists with a predicted East Asian name origin included a higher proportion of quotes from people with a predicted East Asian name origin compared to journalists with other predicted name origins.

The study highlights the need for science journalists to be aware of these biases and take steps to improve representation, such as utilizing expert databases, expanding their source networks, and covering a broader range of topics beyond just recent publications.

Estatísticas

In 2005, 87.09% of quotes were predicted to be from people with a male name, compared to 68.86% in 2020.
People with predicted Celtic/English name origins accounted for 17.9-39.6% of cited authors in news articles, while those with predicted East Asian name origins accounted for 7.3-28.1%.
Journalists with a predicted East Asian name origin included 24.3% quotes from people with a predicted East Asian name origin, compared to 3.8% for journalists with a predicted Celtic/English name origin.

Citações

"Science journalism is an indispensable part of scientific communication and provides an accessible way for everyone from researchers to the public to learn about new scientific findings and to consider their implications."
"Coverage of science shapes who is considered a scientist and field expert by both peers and the public. This indication of legitimacy can either help recognize people who are typically overlooked due to systemic biases or intensify biases."

Principais Insights Extraídos De

Analysis of science journalism reveals gender and regional disparities in coverage

by Davidson,N. ... às www.biorxiv.org 06-22-2021

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.21.449261v5

Perguntas Mais Profundas

How can science journalism outlets actively work to identify and mitigate biases in their source selection and coverage?

Science journalism outlets can take several proactive steps to identify and address biases in their source selection and coverage.

Diversifying Sources: One key strategy is to actively seek out a diverse range of sources for articles. This includes reaching out to experts from underrepresented groups, such as women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds. By expanding the pool of experts quoted in articles, journalists can provide a more comprehensive and inclusive perspective on scientific topics.

Training and Awareness: Providing training for journalists on unconscious bias and diversity in sourcing can help raise awareness of potential biases and how to mitigate them. Journalists can be encouraged to critically evaluate their own sourcing practices and consider the diversity of perspectives represented in their articles.

Regular Audits and Self-Reflection: Science journalism outlets can conduct regular audits of their articles to assess the diversity of sources and identify any patterns of bias. By analyzing data on the gender and ethnic origins of quoted sources, outlets can pinpoint areas for improvement and track progress over time.

Collaboration with Diversity Experts: Collaborating with diversity experts and organizations can provide valuable insights and guidance on best practices for promoting diversity and inclusion in science journalism. These experts can offer training, resources, and support to help outlets address biases in their reporting.

Transparency and Accountability: Science journalism outlets can also prioritize transparency in their reporting processes, including disclosing the demographics of their sources and any efforts taken to promote diversity. By holding themselves accountable and being transparent about their sourcing practices, outlets can build trust with their audience and demonstrate a commitment to equitable coverage.

How can the scientific community, including researchers and institutions, collaborate with science journalists to improve representation and equity in science communication?

Collaboration between the scientific community and science journalists is essential for improving representation and equity in science communication. Here are some ways in which researchers and institutions can work together with journalists:

Engage in Outreach: Researchers and institutions can proactively reach out to journalists to offer their expertise on scientific topics. By making themselves available as potential sources for articles, scientists can help ensure a diverse range of voices are represented in science journalism.

Provide Diversity Training: Institutions can offer training and resources to researchers on how to effectively communicate with journalists and promote diversity in media coverage. This training can include tips on engaging with journalists, crafting compelling narratives, and highlighting the importance of diverse perspectives in science communication.

Support Media Literacy: Researchers can also play a role in promoting media literacy among their peers and the broader scientific community. By educating scientists on how to critically evaluate media coverage, identify biases, and engage with journalists in a constructive manner, researchers can contribute to more informed and equitable science communication.

Collaborate on Outreach Initiatives: Researchers and institutions can collaborate with journalists on outreach initiatives, such as public lectures, workshops, and community events. By working together to engage with the public and promote science literacy, scientists and journalists can amplify diverse voices and foster a more inclusive dialogue on scientific topics.

Advocate for Diversity and Inclusion: Researchers and institutions can advocate for diversity and inclusion in science journalism by supporting initiatives that promote equitable representation in media coverage. By speaking out on the importance of diverse perspectives and supporting efforts to address bias in science communication, scientists can help drive positive change in the field.

What are the potential impacts of the observed disparities on public perceptions of science and the scientific community?

The observed disparities in science journalism, including gender and regional biases in source selection and coverage, can have significant impacts on public perceptions of science and the scientific community.

Representation and Trust: When certain groups are consistently underrepresented in media coverage, it can contribute to a lack of diversity in the voices and perspectives presented to the public. This can erode trust in the scientific community and create barriers to engagement for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.

Perpetuation of Stereotypes: Biases in source selection and coverage can perpetuate stereotypes and reinforce existing power dynamics within the scientific community. By limiting the visibility of diverse voices, media disparities can contribute to a narrow and homogenous portrayal of who is considered a credible expert in science.

Impact on Diversity in STEM: The lack of representation in science journalism can also have broader implications for diversity in STEM fields. When marginalized groups are not adequately represented in media coverage, it can send a message that certain voices are less valued or less authoritative in the scientific community, potentially discouraging individuals from pursuing careers in STEM.

Quality of Science Communication: Biases in source selection can impact the quality and accuracy of science communication. By limiting the range of perspectives and expertise included in articles, journalists may overlook important insights and contribute to a less nuanced understanding of complex scientific topics.

Opportunities for Dialogue and Learning: Addressing disparities in science journalism presents an opportunity to foster more inclusive and engaging dialogue around science. By promoting diverse voices and perspectives, media outlets can enrich public discourse, challenge stereotypes, and create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all individuals interested in science.