Science, Politics, and the Mass Media: On Biased Communication of Environmental Issues
- 1 July 1994
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Science, Technology, & Human Values
- Vol. 19 (3) , 324-341
- https://doi.org/10.1177/016224399401900304
Abstract
When environmental science acts by enlightenment rather than instrumental use, that is, by changing the aims and values of politics rather than its means, adequate communi cation to the general public is crucially important. Based on the study of two issues, forest death from acid rain and the size of whale stocks, this article shows how the "constraints" of commercial mass media can be contrary to the task of enlightenment. It is also argued that skeptical and relativist views of science contribute indirectly to bias by undermining criticism.Keywords
This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit:
- What Is “The Media” and Why Is It Saying Those Terrible Things About Aggression Research?Published by Taylor & Francis ,2024
- Misunderstood misunderstanding: social identities and public uptake of sciencePublic Understanding of Science, 1992
- Knowledges in ContextScience, Technology, & Human Values, 1991
- Science and politics in the international management of whalesMarine Policy, 1989
- Die Welt als Bild und KalkülPhysik in unserer Zeit, 1988