IIMC, NISCAIR to promote science journalism

The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) has entered into a partnership with the National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resource (NISCAIR) to promote science journalism. NISCAIR is an information resource institute which operates under the ministry of science and technology’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Under the partnership, the two institutions will share resources as well as work towards promoting serious and accurate communication on issues related to science.

“Science journalism is reduced to sensational headings of research findings that are often misleading and one-dimensional,” said KG Suresh, director-general, IIMC. “This partnership will help focus on creating avenues for informative and holistic reporting on matters pertaining to science.”

Under the agreement, IIMC plans to hold a national seminar on science journalism in December while an international seminar is likely to be held in 2018.

The two institutions propose to take up joint research projects, student-led initiatives focusing on scientific communication as well as participation in seminars and workshops.

In a bid to bring the focus on scientific reporting, IIMC’s English journalism programme also comprises three papers on scientific reporting. “Often students are interested in either political reporting or lifestyle journalism,” said Suresh. “The purpose of this partnership is to introduce students to other branches within journalism and learn the tools required for accurate reporting.”