References
This section of the Observatory is dedicated to curating resources on science journalism. Here science journalists can find a selection of information to keep up to date with the ever-changing scenario of the field.
Articles, podcasts, videos, and other kinds of free online resources can be found. The selection will particularly focus on the topics that have been at the center of ENJOI research: artificial intelligence, environment, and climate crisis, water and food shortage, and the use of data (especially open science data) to report on science topics. But we will also look at how a few innovative practices are changing the way science journalism is conducted: engagement methods, cross-border collaborations, and solution journalism.
Any suggestions for resoucers to enrich our ENJOI Observatory’s references space? Get in touch!
Science as a human and social practice
by Sofia Belardinelli
Science is a human, social practice shaped by cultural, material, and theoretical contexts. Sabina Leonelli highlights its complexity, challenging the myth of neutrality in scientific inquiry
April 15, 2025
Shared Goals, Divergent Paths: The Intersection of Journalism and Academia
by Marco Boscolo
What is the relationship between journalism and academia? Federica Cherubini and Mattia Peretti, two prominent figures at the intersection of both fields, ask themselves in a recent commentary. Cherubini and Peretti explore the relationship between journalism and academia, using the metaphor of two riverbanks connected by bridges. While many bridges already exist to foster […]
April 9, 2025
Navigating Misinformation in the Digital Age: A Conversation with Andy Ridgway
by Sara Urbani
Andy Ridgway is a researcher within the Science Communication unit at the University of the West of England in Bristol and a science journalist with 20 years of experience. He writes for the BBC Science Focus magazine and contributes to the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO). Ridgway is also involved with the communication activities of […]
March 25, 2025
Science outreach: What’s the scientists’ perspective?
by Sofia Belardinelli
Shifting from top-down communication to participatory models and building relationships with audiences lead to more effective science outreach despite challenges like time management and institutional recognition.
March 18, 2025
A systems-level approach to tackle scientific misinformation
by Sofia Belardinelli
Contrasting the spread of scientific misinformation proved to be complicated. A recently published report focussing on the American situation identified some possible paths towards solutions
March 4, 2025
Learning from the past: A Conversation with Cristina Luís
by Sara Urbani
History never repeats itself identically, but it can be an excellent starting point for understanding where we need to improve. Also for science communication
February 25, 2025
Even after the pandemic, trust in Scientists Remains Strong Globally
by Marco Boscolo
A comprehensive study covering 68 countries, published in Nature Human Behaviour, challenges the notion that scientists' trust has eroded following the COVID-19 pandemic. During and immediately after the pandemic, the question arose of how much this event could have eroded citizens' trust in science. The question arose because of the strong opposition that some […]
February 18, 2025
Looking for experts beyond our cultural and geographic ‘bubble’
by Sofia Belardinelli
Scientific journalism often suffers from a Eurocentric bias, limiting the diversity of expert voices and perspectives. By actively seeking out researchers from different geographical and cultural backgrounds, journalists can create more comprehensive and accurate scientific reporting. A sad feature of much scientific journalism is its Eurocentric and U.S.-centric focus. Journalists often default to discussing […]
February 11, 2025
Speaking to the mind and heart: Emotions in science communication
by Sofia Belardinelli
Effective science communication goes beyond facts, engaging emotions to connect with audiences. Research shows curiosity and awe are key in fostering interest and understanding.
January 30, 2025
How to employ AI in journalism ethically?
by Sofia Belardinelli
The EBU's News Report 2024 explores AI's impact on journalism, highlighting its potential to enhance efficiency while raising ethical concerns. Emphasizing the "human in the loop" principle, the report advocates for transparency and responsible AI use, ensuring that journalism's core values of accuracy and accountability are upheld.
January 17, 2025
Turning climate reporting into a force of change
by Sofia Belardinelli
Excessive focus on negative news – which indeed abounds – has proved ineffective in spreading awareness and, above all, moving people to action. To contribute to the required societal and cultural change, journalism should talk about available solutions and share a narrative of what we want to achieve rather than focusing on the gloomy future that stems from inaction
December 16, 2024
Features of polarised scientific messages online: A review
by Sofia Belardinelli
A study from the University of São Paulo reveals a troubling rise in polarised scientific messages online, highlighting a significant knowledge gap in understanding this phenomenon. Researchers found that these communications often present a single viewpoint and use assertive language, underscoring the urgent need for further research to improve science communication and address the divisive effects of polarisation.
December 3, 2024
Responsibly leveraging AI in journalism
by Sofia Belardinelli
Generative AI tools have suddenly entered newsrooms, with many journalists already using them to streamline aspects of their work. This raises pressing questions about how to regulate the use of AI responsibly, ensuring transparency without undermining journalism’s credibility
November 7, 2024
Why We Struggle to Understand People Outside Our Social Groups
by Marco Boscolo
A recent study reveals that individuals find it significantly harder to accurately infer the thoughts and feelings of people outside their social groups, relying instead on first impressions and stereotypes. This cognitive hurdle underscores the need for deeper engagement in conversations, especially in science communication, where overcoming societal divides is essential. When conversing with […]
October 21, 2024
Enhancing Public Engagement in Science Communication through Journalism
by Marco Boscolo
The ENJOI project highlighted the need for effective scientific communication and public engagement, fostering dialogue between experts and non-experts. Sociologist and science policy expert Alondra Nelson emphasizes journalists' role in enhancing public understanding of science policy, aligning with NEWSERA's focus on integrating citizen science. Together, these initiatives aim to bridge the gap between science and society.
October 10, 2024
Don’t correct disinformation. Prevent it
by Sofia Belardinelli
A new report by ALDA Europe delves into the current state of digital literacy in Europe and shows how to effectively tackle the ongoing “disinformation epidemic.” We must consider that, through social and emotional factors, we all contribute to disinformation by being inattentive users in the digital environment. The key is empowering people with tools to prevent misinformation.
October 3, 2024
Being on the same page
by Marco Boscolo
It is not certain that all the people involved in a project agree on the meaning of the words we will have to use. At first, it can be helpful to take some time to clarify. Experiences from an experimental program
July 15, 2024
TikTok: A Rising Social Phenomenon or News Desert?
by Marco Boscolo
TikTok's explosive growth raises concerns as study reveals dearth of news content, challenging journalism's presence on the platform
June 10, 2024
European Union Approved AI Act
by Marco Boscolo
On February 13, the European Union ratified the AI Act, establishing the world's first legal framework for regulating artificial intelligence. Although pending a final vote in the European Parliament, the text is nearly finalized and has already generated various reactions. The regulation's official enactment is expected two years after its official publication.
April 23, 2024
Engaged Science Journalism. The ENJOI Podcast.
by Giulia Bonelli
The ENJOI podcast is out! Listen to "Engaged Science Journalism", a journey through the experiences of some European media who found innovative ways to survive, or even grow, in a post-pandemic world.
March 6, 2024
Unveiling AI's Newsroom Role: Efficiency Boosts and Misinformation Hazards
by Marco Boscolo
Recent research highlights the widespread adoption of AI tools in newsrooms for various tasks, driven by a need for efficiency amid financial pressures. While AI offers benefits, it also introduces risks of misinformation, emphasizing the importance of careful integration and broader industry engagement.
March 5, 2024
The risk with data voids in reinforcing misinformation
by Marco Boscolo
In the lead-up to the 2024 election, concerns over misinformation abound, fueled by "data voids" and reinforced by online searches. Experts emphasize the need for tailored approaches and recognize trust in information as a multifaceted, ongoing process.
February 16, 2024
Labelling AI-generated content helps maintain audience trust. Or not?
by Marco Boscolo
We already know that artificial intelligence is already present in many newsrooms around the globe. And we know AI-based tools are used to help generate news content in various ways, but often without an explicit declaration of such behaviour. What if we labelled the AI-generated content as such? Are we going to foster a trusting […]
December 15, 2023
ENJOI contribution to the Concluding Statement of the PCST Venice Symposium 2023
by Marco Boscolo
At the end of September, scholars, practitioners, science writers, and science communicators from around the world met in Venice for the PCST Venice Symposium 2023, a gathering hosted on San Servolo island by the Venice International University. ENJOI project participated in the event and contributed to the discussion, presenting some of its major results. We […]
November 30, 2023
AI in the newsroom: a general lack of guidelines. A survey
by Marco Boscolo
A new report from the LSE’s JournalismAI initiative underlines the lack of news organisations strategy on AI and highlights some concerns on the future of the industry We already discussed how much and for what kind of purposes AI is used in newsrooms around the world, thanks to a recent report on the topic. A […]
November 3, 2023
Data and solution journalism to report on climate change and environmental issue
by Enjoi Team
Journalism can make climate change concrete and promote action to fight it Climate change is increasingly in the headlines. Its (negative) influence on our lives is now tangible. Still, for some reasons – mainly related to how our brain perceives dangers and risks – our attitude remains largely passive, and awareness of the seriousness and […]
September 30, 2023
The Renaissance of the Newsletter and where to find them
by Marco Boscolo
In a certain way, newsletters have anticipated what journalism would have become. It was already in existence during the Middle Ages, when travelling merchants moved not just goods but also news. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica: "Traders' newsletters contained commercial information on the availability and prices of various goods and services, but they also could […]
September 20, 2023
Lights and Shadows on Local Journalism
by Enjoi Team
Engagement has never been more crucial in determining the survival of journalism than in the case of local newspapers and media outlets.
September 11, 2023
Fact-checking, engaging communities in debunking scientific hoaxes
by Enjoi Team
In an era when information channels are so diverse and easily accessible, fact-checking has never been more fundamental.
August 21, 2023
Generative AI is here: half of the newsrooms seem already to be using various tools
by Marco Boscolo
Insights from the report "Gauging Generative AI’s Impact on Newsroom", collecting inputs from 101 newsroom editors, journalists, and other newsroom staff worldwide.
July 20, 2023
Building a relationship between science journalism and citizen science
by Marco Boscolo
Insights from the European project NEWSERA, aimed to incorporate participatory science into science communication. Blueprint for #CitSciComm now available.
June 26, 2023
How should science journalism talk about environmental pollution? The collaboration of data journalism and solution journalism
by Enjoi Team
Data is fundamental for framing and understanding the problem, discussing the measures to be taken, and presenting solutions that have been successfully implemented in particular contexts Pollution and environmental disruption are heavy themes, difficult to contextualize and describe. Often, when we read or hear stories about pollution – from the lack of prevention to the […]
June 19, 2023
Slow journalism as an answer to news inflation
by Marco Boscolo
Reversing the trend of press-release journalism, or “churnalism”, is necessary to do quality work, but it requires new models of financial sustainability and support from the readers. And it is an interesting approach especially for reporting on science topics
May 22, 2023
The right way to make science known, and to bring it into people's lives
by Valentina Guglielmo
At the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Elisabetta Tola and Massimo Polidoro discuss the importance of talking about science, the difficulties that journalists and science communicators face in accurately conveying scientific information, and what still separates the scientific world from other aspects of social and political life, especially in Italy. right way to make science known, […]
May 17, 2023
The problem of misinformation after the Covid-19 pandemic
by Marco Boscolo
And what kind of precautions should science journalists ask themselves when contacting scientists and researchers
May 9, 2023
Has the Covid-19 pandemic changed how science journalists work?
by Marco Boscolo
A focus on the selection and use of sources during the pandemic, and on the relation between journalists and scientists
April 18, 2023
What went wrong with data journalism during the Covid-19 pandemic
by Enjoi Team
And what we should learn from this, plus some examples of how high-quality data journalism can make a difference
April 3, 2023
How cross-border collaboration could help scientific journalism
by Enjoi Team
Cooperation and engagement between journalists in different countries to reach information
March 20, 2023
Flaws in reporting on AI: a checklist tool for reporters
by Marco Boscolo
Reporting on AI can be tricky. Journalists do not always possess enough knowledge in the field to avoid exaggerated claims (both positive and negative) and companies tend to hype their products in order to maximize their media exposure. But nonetheless, reporting on AI is crucial in a moment of great expansion of the sector and […]
March 14, 2023
QUEST: Looking for quality and effectiveness in SciComm
by Tanja Salandin
How to define, measure and support quality in science communication? Interview with Alessandra Fornetti, coordinator of the European Project QUEST
May 11, 2022
