Science on TV:
environment as speculation
and health as ordinary news
Marzia Mazzonetto
Gemma Revuelta
Observatorio de la Comunicación Científica
Universitat Pompeu Fabra – Barcelona (Spain)
PCST 2008 - Malmö 25.06.2008
Objectives of the study
• Analyze the presence of science content on the main Catalan
television channels (TV3, K3-33, TVE a Catalunya, 8TV,
BarcelonaTV).
• Find evidence of the events, activities and of an increased coverage
of science topics in the general programming and the newscasts as
an effect of the Year of Science (Barcelona 2007).
• Compare the presence of three specific topics - hard science and
technology, medical science, environment and nature - and different
approaches in their treatment in science programmes, newscasts
and a magazine programme.
Structure and Methodology
• Research realized by the Observatorio de la Comunicación
Científica (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain) with the
contribution of the Consell de l’Audiovisual de Catalunya (CAC).
• Sample: april – june of 2006 and 2007
• Materials: the complete programming of four channels (TV3,
K3/33, 8tv, BarcelonaTV); science news broadcasted inside
newscasts of four channels (TV3, TVE a Catalunya, 8tv,
BarcelonaTV); the complete programming of the magazine
programme Els Matins (TV3, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., mon – fry).
• Methodology: content analysis
Three areas of interest:
• General programming
• Newscasts
• A magazine tv programme
• (science programmes)
Newscasts coverage of
science and technology issues
Temàtica:
Canals:
Ciència i
tecnologia
Medi ambient
Health
2T-06
0,50
2,04
1,25
2T-07
0,94
2,42
1,78
2T-06
0,43
2,65
1,76
2T-07
0,97
2,62
1,89
2T-06
0,29
4,40
2,15
2T-07
1,96
2,14
1,63
2T-06
0,92
2,24
1,12
2T-07
1,48
1,62
1,24
0,94
2,52
1,60
TV3
TVE a
Catalunya
1,49
1,72
8tv
2,10
BTV
Average thematic
porcentage
Font: Elaboració pròpia
Avarage channel
porcentage
1,44
Newscasts: distribution of entries according
to thematic and approach
Health
Environment
Sience and
technology
Catastrophe
Risk
Controversy
Polícy
Research
Newscasts: sources of scientific news
6%
8%
4%
Scientific and academic
sector
25%
Public administrations
Health care system
Civil associations
29%
Industrial/private sector
28%
Other
Distribution of science contents
in general programming
900
800
700
600
500
400
TV3
K3/33
8Tv
300
200
100
BTV
0
2006
2007
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ic
in
e
or
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og
y
M
et
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ar
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T
O
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er
sc
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e
IC
En
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ro
nm
en
Sc
t
ie
nc
e
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at
ur
e
Distribution of topics
in general programming
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Science and technology topics and
participation in a magazine programme
5%
2% 2%
9%
35%
Citizen
Doctor
Public administration
University professor
9%
Scientist / Researcher
Civil association
Journalist
Public institution
9%
Private institution
Other
10%
9%
10%
Future developments
“The starting point of any study of
television must be with what is actually
there on the screen”
J. Fiske y J. Hartley, Reading Television
• Selection of case studies
• Reception study
Thank you!
Marzia Mazzonetto
marzia.mazzonetto@upf.edu
Gemma Revuelta
gemma.revuelta@upf.edu
www.upf.edu/occ