Science and the South African media

% of sample SKA framed as an African project21 Affirmation of African S&T capabilities10 Affirmation of South African S&T capabilities9 External views of South African S&T capabilities8 Africa as part of global S&T7 Comparison to World Cup External views of African S&T capabilities5 Africa Day4 African growth in astronomy2 Refutation of Afro-pessimism2 Reference to Afro-pessimism2 African astronomy historical perspective0 TOTAL references to the SKA as symbol of African science & technology35

Beyond the news media: How does science enter popular culture? ChannelFeaturesQuestions TelevisionDominant overall channelNews? Documentary? Fiction? RadioDominant channel for low LSMModalities? Languages? Newspaper*Science journalism as a critical issue Science journalism capacities and institutional culture Other people “Channel” of communication is through social interaction/construction Social construction of science Book/magazine* Steep gradient vs education. Raises literacy as an issue of access. Popular science? Fiction? Internet*Digital divide News? Science magazines/media? Social media? Institutional sites? Public spaces*Direct mandate of DST entitiesScience centres? Libraries? Museums? *Common for youth/high education/LSM, little access for older cohorts/low education/LSM

“Super-hero comics incorporate the same tensions that inform academic discussions and as such they should be seen as just as much a part of the collective working out of the questions and problems raised by modern science. This working out involves us all; in this, we are all the experts” (Locke, 2005: 42)

Strategic considerations Media is relevant to all four strategic aims of the framework – thus a critical point for research and implementation plan Mission: science engagement ‘using the most appropriate and innovative means’ – challenges us to think out the box Science centres as the core infrastructure for science engagement? Need to expand their media scope/channels and roles. DST’s resources currently permit engagement access to only a small fraction of learners – need to look at a broader media strategy Frame STEM as more fun, appealing, accessible, etc. This is an issue of ‘science culture’ as well as ‘science engagement’.

New platforms, channels, modalities New technology platforms: Greater use of online social media to provide a public space for user-driven engagement between the public and DST entities (including SAASTA) Online social media platforms specifically to debate controversial science issues A phone app? New communication channels and modalities: Clear need to strengthen science journalism capabilities… But also focus on the other main channels of science communication – TV, radio, internet, books/magazines – tactical responses to their demographic features – Research focus on modalities, framing, sources of information, demographics… How do we think about “Promoting the communication of science using the arts and performing arts”? “Bilateral agreements with the relevant departments” – SABC? NAC? DAC?

New research questions and approaches National surveys (e.g. SASAS) for longitudinal detail Media studies/science communication studies of the channels, messages, modalities and impact of science in the media and related public discourse The media provide role models for scientists, engineers, etc. – how are these framed in a South African context? How are South African science achievements framed in the media – for example the SKA as a symbol of (South) African science and technology achievement? How can we include these symbols in our science communication? Global vs (South) African science media content? Is science framed as ‘accessible’, ‘interesting’ etc. in line with Framework objectives?

Science and the South African media