Prof Emmanuel Dandaura of Nigeria’s Nasarawa State University handing over a curriculum book to Uganda’s Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Elioda Tumwesigye, during the Makerere University Annual Media Convention.
22 July 2019 – SciDev.Net through the innovative Script project – aimed at nurturing the science journalists of tomorrow – has helped pave the way for Uganda’s first Annual Media Convention dedicated to advancing science journalism and communication.
More than 360 people, including Uganda’s Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Elioda Tumwesigye (pictured third right above), gathered to discuss the increasingly important role science news and analysis has to play in forging important links between scientists, policy makers, communities and development. Other guests included several senior managers at the University, led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Dr Umar Kakumba.
The focus on science journalism and communication as part Uganda’s Makerere University 19th Annual Media Convention comes just over a year after SciDev.Net launched the Script programme to increase the number of articles about science and to further its influence in public life and the development of government policy.
Script, funded by Robert Bosch Stiftung, is already seeing fruits born of a successful partnership with the Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University where – as well as having access to an online course – students are taught the fundamentals of science journalism as part of the curriculum.
Photo: the Ugandan press turn out in force at the Annual Media Convention
Makerere University is just one African institution that has received support from SciDev.Net to introduce science journalism and communication into their degree programmes. Others involved in the scheme include Nasarawa State University in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, budding journalists have also been given the opportunity to hone their skills as part of a mentorship programme run in collaboration with the Nation Media Group in Kenya. This involved students, who successfully completed the Script online course Science Communication Skills for Journalists, pitching a science story idea to a Nation Media outlet in an East African country and working with an editor to file it for publication.
Speaking at the convention, Daniel Kalinaki, General Manager, Editorial at Nation Media Group Uganda, pointed out three key changes that journalists should pay attention to and adjust accordingly. One of these, he said, is the shift in science journalism from pointing out problems to reporting solutions.
“The world is tired of being told what has not worked. They want to know what works,” Kalinaki said. “A good way to introduce yourself to scientific thinking is to imitate the thoroughness with which scientists question everything until they prove it rather than simply reporting because someone has said it.”
Makerere University deputy vice-chancellor for academic affairs, Umaru Kakumba, said, “Knowledge that is gathered and kept in the shelves is useless. Knowledge that is gathered and disseminated in such a way that it informs policy and practice is useful,” he said.
Charles Wendo, Training Coordinator – SciDev.Net, has written a blog ‘Adapting to change – how journalists, scientists can stay relevant in today’s world’ in respect of the Script programme’s influence at Makerere University’s Annual Media Convention.
Additional information
About Script
Script is a free training and networking resource for journalists, scientists and anyone who wants to communicate science in an engaging and accurate way.
By connecting reporters and researchers, and giving both groups the skills to understand and communicate with each other, Script aims to increase the quantity and quality of science-related stories in the news. We believe this is essential to enable informed, evidence-based decision-making, by everyone from individuals to policymakers.
About SciDev.Net
SciDev.Net is the world’s leading source of reliable and authoritative news, views and analysis about science and technology for global development.
Our Mission is to use independent journalism to help individuals and organisations apply science to decision-making in order to drive equitable, sustainable development and poverty reduction. SciDev.Net is part of CAB International (CABI) – a not-for-profit organisation that improves people’s lives worldwide by providing information and applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment.
SciDev.Net operates editorially independently from CABI with its content overseen by an independent Editorial Advisory Committee whose role is to ensure our editorial independence protocol is adhered to. The protocol is available on request.
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