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Abstract

The traditional norms of scientists and journalists in science communication are being challenged in post-normal situations when values are involved, uncertainties are high, and there is a need for political action. Animated meta-discourses, defined as reflections and discussions of norms and their practices, indicate a renegotiation of the norms governing science communication. This study explores if and how these norms are being renegotiated among journalists and scientists – focusing on climate research as a prime example of post-normal science. We focus on high-profile blogs by eminent scientists and science journalists to analyze which norms are problematized or defended using a qualitative content analysis of six climate change blogs from Germany, the UK, and the USA (n=3808 blog posts from 196 authors with n=439 posts on meta-discourses). The results show that the traditional norm of impartiality is
being challenged in both science and journalism, especially as far as the journalistic understanding of “balance” and the scientific ideal of value-free science are concerned. At the same time, other norms become more important both among scientists and journalists: transparency and contextualization of information. Discourses about advocacy reveal that the norm is highly contested and that certain types of advocacy are legitimized in certain situations.

Lörcher, I., Walter, S., & Brüggemann, M. (2024). Negotiating the norms of science communication: Blogs by climate scientists and journalists. In A. Carvalho & T. R. Peterson (Eds.), Environmental Communication. De Gruyter.

Brüggemann, Michael (2022): Balance as Bias von Max und Jules Boykoff. In: Youssef Ibrahim und Simone Rödder (Eds.): Schlüsselwerke der sozialwissenschaftlichen Klimaforschung. Bielefeld: transcript (Soziologie der Nachhaltigkeit, Band 2), pp. 45–49.

Abstract:

Growing awareness of global ecological crises has provoked a set of new practices in journalism that we suggest labelling transformative journalisms. The term encompasses a diversity of new role conceptions and practices that converge around an explicit and transparent commitment to contribute to the social-ecological transformation of societies by doing journalism. It is thus a form of advocacy journalism that is special in being dedicated to the most common of common goods, preserving the eco-systems and natural resources of the planet. Transformative journalism challenges some aspects of objectivity, such as the idea of the neutral, distanced observer. Instead, it emphasizes the elements of relevant and factually correct coverage as well as values such as transparency about values and moderating the debates that enable society to develop more sustainable ways of life. While the tension between the poles of being a critical, independent observer and sharing a mission of ecological transformation is the source of criticism by proponents of more traditional role conceptions, we also see this tension as a productive source for creativity, complementing traditional journalism with new forms of content, production, and interactions audiences as well as increased awareness of the ecological footprint of doing journalism.

Brüggemann, M. / Frech, J. / Schäfer, T. (2022): Transformative journalisms: How the ecological crisis is transforming journalism. in: Hansen, A. (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Environment and Communication. 2nd Edition. Routledge, New York.

Guenther, L. / Brüggemann, M. / Kleinen-von Königslöw, K. (2023): Media. In: Engels, A. et. al. (eds): Hamburg climate futures outlook 2023 – the plausibility of a 1.5°C limit to global warming: social drivers and physical processes. Hamburg, Universität Hamburg, 128-133. doi:10.1080/17524032.2024.2305827.