Educator, Entertainer or Watchdog? Professional identities of Finnish science journalists

Authors

• Riikka Lampinen Helsingin yliopisto
• Tuomo Mörä

Abstract

This article considers professional identities of Finnish science journalists. We identified three main professional roles: educator, entertainer and watchdog. The most common role seemed to be the role of educator. Most interviewees defined their main task as to transmit and interpret the newest scientific knowledge to the laymen. The role of entertainer refers to the fact that almost all the interviewees considered skills like story-telling, sense of drama or ability to touch emotions as essential characteristics for science journalists. It is not enough just to be an expert on a subject matter but one should also be able to create an exciting and visually attractive story. The third role, watchdog was not considered as important as the first two. In principal, for example, the journalists accepted the view that journalism should be critical towards the motives and the affiliations of the scientists. However, they were commonly in an opinion that such criticism is not part of their assignment but rather the task of news desks in media organizations. The study was based on a qualitative analysis of 15 in-depth interviews of full time science journalists working in popular media.