Workshop 4: Engaging readers through live blogging
Date: 7 April 2022, 16:00-18:00 (online)
Guest speaker: Dr Konstantinos Makris, Associate Professor of Environmental Health, Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology
Trainer: Christiana Varda, Research Associate and PhD Student at the Department of Communication and Internet Studies, Cyprus University of Technology
Ready access to immediate information online, has increased audiences’ voracity for news as it happens. However, in an ongoing flow of online information which values speed over reflection, there can be a blurring of the line between evidence-based reporting and speculation. Reporting on science can be challenging, especially for issues which seem to be far removed from citizens’ daily concerns. How science is communicated, especially on social media, can influence what people think about and how they act in response to a scientific issue. This can have tremendous consequences for issues that affect societies at large.
Humanizing science stories, and grounding scientific evidence in people’s everyday experiences can amplify the impact of news stories, especially when it comes to environmental stories. In this workshop we will explore how evidence-based approaches can connect the environment with public health. Additionally, we will examine the value of balancing what is known and what is uncertain about an evolving scientific issue or a breaking news story during a liveblogging event.
