Journalists’ decisions can impact researchers’ careers and public perception of who is a scientist
Media attention can boost a scientist’s career, bringing them prestige and making it easier to attract collaborators and students. But there are disparities in who gets named in news stories about scientific research, according to a new study: Scientists with East Asian and African names are less likely to be mentioned or quoted in stories that reference their work.
The decisions journalists make about who to mention in a story also have broader implications for how the public views scientists, says Maite Taboada, a distinguished professor at Simon Fraser University whose lab developed the Gender Tracker, a website that monitors the proportion of women quoted in Canadian news stories. “It is important for the individual researcher, for sure.
Geography could be a factor: When restricting the analysis to scientists based in the United States, the research team found that scientists with East Asian and African names were still less likely to be mentioned, but the differences weren’t as dramatic as when the team included scientists based elsewhere in the world.
But outright bias could also be part of the explanation. A judgment about whether a scientist is likely to have an accent or be fluent in English, for instance, could influence a journalist’s decision to contact them about their work. “It takes more time and more resources to transcribe an interview from a nonnative speaker,” Yan says. “And yes, that is inherent racism and I’m sorry to say it, but I also think it’s absolutely at play here.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Scientists reveal effect of land conditions on Asian monsoon climateResearchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have used numerical simulations to show how conditions on land impact weather during Asian summer monsoons. Focusing on the Tibetan plateau, they studied how varied land conditions combined with fixed maritime conditions illuminate the specific effects of the land on the weather.
Read more »
East Oakland students head to East Asia for cultural experienceEast Oakland students from Castlemont High’s Pacific Bridge Club boarded a flight from SFO on Tuesday afternoon heading to East Asia for the adventure of a lifetime. For some students, this is their first time on a plane.
Read more »
Scientists discover how the Diadem butterfly mimics the African QueenScientists have discovered how female Diadem butterflies have evolved to look like African Queen butterflies to repel predators.
Read more »
African and Asian newcomers are the new face of migrants in NYCAfrican and Asian newcomers are the new face of migrants in NYC
Read more »
African Giants Light Up the 2024 African Games in GhanaSports Equity™ Lab (SEL) and Swiss sportswear brand On partner to showcase six outstanding African athletes in a 10-meter-tall installation at the venue of the 2024 African Games.
Read more »