Social Scientists Meet The Media

The book is a compilation of essays from social scientists and journalists who have had to deal with each other. The essays discuss the different ways that the two groups approach the media and the ways in which the media can be used to further the goals of social scientists. The book offers practical advice to social scientists on how to work better with the media in order to reach a wider audience.

Social scientists often dismiss the media as untrustworthy and irresponsible and the media frequently regard social scientists as incapable of giving a straight answer. The contributors to this volume complain of having been misrepresented, misquoted and edited out of all recognition. That this clash of cultures should occur is not surprising given the different priorities and perspectives of the social sciences and the media. This work examines these issues from the viewpoint of the media and social scientists who have had extensive media contact. The academics contributing to this book have conducted research on a diverse range of topics including: education, stress, football hooliganism, intelligence, risk factors for illness, drug use, performance appraisal in universities, politics, sex, religion, pornography, female sexuality, terrorism, youth culture and media studies. There are also chapters from well-known media practitioners, from radio, the television and newspapers. Based on the contributions, the editors offer practical suggestions for social scientists to help them work more effectively with the media and thereby reach a wider audience.