Knowledgeable journalists produce credible stories

Copyright: Flickr/Africa Center for Strategic Studies

By: Simeon Maganga

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<h1>Knowledgeable journalists produce credible stories</h1>
<h4>By: Simeon Maganga</h4>
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<p>Are you a science journalist from Africa? Then you should use every available opportunity to broaden your knowledge in the field as that will be of great benefit to your readers or listeners more than you.</p>
<p>
	“Most science journalists may desire for more knowledge on the things they write about but resources constraints are making them do insufficient work that in turn fail to make audiences better informed for well-considered choices.</p>
<p>
	“This is why I strongly believe that it’s better to go for a paid up trip though one may be tempted to write nice stories about the sponsoring organization. What is important is getting knowledge rather than not going at all,” says Jukka Lehtinen, a freelance technology and innovation journalist from Finland.</p>
<p>
	Lehtinen was speaking on Tuesday during an interview on the side-lines of the World Conference for Science Journalists in Helsinki, after moderating a parallel session on “Money talks? Science Communication, PR and science journalism: is there interaction?”</p>
<p>
	But good science stories market themselves. And do not hesitate to learn; Siirii Lelumees—Editor in Chief for health magazine Kodutohter from Estonia— says science journalists should utilize every available education opportunities once they come their way.</p>
<p>
	“If science journalists are funded to learn about the world of science, that’s a positive development as that would not negatively influence what they write.</p>
<p>
	“However, care should be taken if it is a promotional training by governments or other organizations that may have their own contractual issue,” she says.</p>
<p>
	Lelumees concludes, “Establish and understand contractual issues, otherwise, such funding my might have undue influence on journalistic objectivity.”      </p>
<p>
	Participants agreed trustworthy science journalism has an important role to play in dissemination of scientific information; one needs to be thorough.</p>
<p>
	<em>Simeon Maganga,</em> <em>Wellcome Trust funded intern</em></p>

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Are you a science journalist from Africa? Then you should use every available opportunity to broaden your knowledge in the field as that will be of great benefit to your readers or listeners more than you.

“Most science journalists may desire for more knowledge on the things they write about but resources constraints are making them do insufficient work that in turn fail to make audiences better informed for well-considered choices.

“This is why I strongly believe that it’s better to go for a paid up trip though one may be tempted to write nice stories about the sponsoring organization. What is important is getting knowledge rather than not going at all,” says Jukka Lehtinen, a freelance technology and innovation journalist from Finland.

Lehtinen was speaking on Tuesday during an interview on the side-lines of the World Conference for Science Journalists in Helsinki, after moderating a parallel session on “Money talks? Science Communication, PR and science journalism: is there interaction?”

But good science stories market themselves. And do not hesitate to learn; Siirii Lelumees—Editor in Chief for health magazine Kodutohter from Estonia— says science journalists should utilize every available education opportunities once they come their way.

“If science journalists are funded to learn about the world of science, that’s a positive development as that would not negatively influence what they write.

“However, care should be taken if it is a promotional training by governments or other organizations that may have their own contractual issue,” she says.

Lelumees concludes, “Establish and understand contractual issues, otherwise, such funding my might have undue influence on journalistic objectivity.”

Participants agreed trustworthy science journalism has an important role to play in dissemination of scientific information; one needs to be thorough.

Simeon Maganga, Wellcome Trust funded intern