The Need for an African Science News Service

This 29-page report explores the idea of setting up an African science news service that would receive press releases from African research institutions and distribute them to the African (and international) media. Prepared on behalf of SciDev.Net for the United Kingdom National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the report states that the launch of such a science news service for Africa could improve the quality and relevance of the continent's media coverage of scientific research. Such a news service could also play a role in introducing journalists to relevant experts and proactively provide information on topical issues, as well as track major stories involving African scientists and create press releases around these.

The report explains that at present, it is considerably more difficult for African science journalists to obtain information about research being carried out within universities and other institutions on their own continent than about research in the developed world. As a result, African newspapers and other media tend to carry lengthy descriptions of research in the United States and Europe - often provided by wire services and used without any effort to mould it to local circumstances; but they carry relatively little about the achievements of African researchers on their own continent.

Almost 70% of the journalists who responded to the research survey expressed frustration at trying to identify and reach scientists to ask for explanations of  their research findings in detail and comments on their significance. This barrier is coupled with trying to obtain news and information about research. Some cited poor communication from research institutions as a major barrier, a lack of media awareness at scientific institutions, and geographical distance between these institutions and media centres. Other journalists reported that they or their colleagues lack skills and expertise in science reporting, including handling academic information sources. Many journalists highlighted various shortcomings of current sources, often including lack of relevance to local audiences. When asked what was needed in order to improve and expand science coverage in their media outlet, several journalists requested better access to locally relevant sources and information.

All the journalists who responded to the survey welcomed the idea of an African science news service, the creation of which could potentially help to address many of these issues. Journalists gave various reasons why an African science news service could be useful, including the fact that it would help to "bypass protocol and bureaucracy" to access information. An African science news service could also help to overcome the difficulty of time constraints and competition with other types of stories. A web platform that provides press releases and contact information to journalists would also do away with the need to travel to press conferences.

Despite the enthusiasm expressed for an African science news service, its widespread implementation could be hindered by a number of obstacles currently faced by many scientific institutions, including negative attitudes, institutional barriers, and scant resources and opportunities for training personnel to provide press releases. In addition, further issues would need to be addressed among media. For example, journalists will need to go beyond the press release to develop a story, interviewing both the scientists behind the research reported in their press release and independent experts.

The report concludes that there is strong support for the idea of setting up an African science news service. Most importantly, this support comes from within Africa. Respondents also noted that for journalists to make good use of an African science news service, there needs to be better training for journalists so that they can go "beyond the press release" to develop science stories and feel confident in talking to scientists, and there needs to be more opportunities for journalists and scientists to meet in order to break down the communication barriers they currently face.