Marine ecosystem science and the media: Exploring ways to improve news coverage through journalist–scientist working relations

Abstract

Abstract The ocean's remoteness, ecological complexities, lengthy ecosystem processes, and vulnerability to multiple and cumulative anthropogenic threats make marine conservation communication particularly difficult. Both scientists and journalists face unique challenges in explaining the science of these often out‐of‐sight ecosystems. Given the inadequacies of marine news, improvement appeared necessary. However, the experiences and views of journalists and scientists have hardly been examined within marine news contexts. Thus, this study sought the perspectives of these two professional groups to provide a discussion on ways to improve news coverage of complex ocean issues through enhanced journalist–scientist working relations. Both journalists and scientists rated the quantity, breadth and quality of marine news as average and were receptive to alternative ways for reporting ecosystem complexities. Although some frustrations remain, both valued impactful news stories resulting from their working relations and preferred direct contact with each other over indirect methods such as press releases and science news platforms. Both groups generally agreed on what to include in marine news, but scientists favoured a collaborative approach to news content decision‐making more strongly than journalists. Journalists' and scientists' commonly shared views and goals concerning marine news identified in this study could serve as a common ground for uniting the two professions. Institutional policies that permit one‐on‐one journalist–scientist interactions could lead to mutual understandings about the contexts of their relationship challenges. More trustful and mutually beneficial relationships, in turn, could be a basis for a more collaborative news generation process. Compiling and making marine visuals readily accessible to journalists; training programmes that enhance journalists' and scientists' understanding of the influence of media message framing on conservation actions; media appreciation of marine ecosystem complexities' newsworthiness; and the notion of media's social responsibility in reporting marine conservation issues could contribute to more impactful coverage.