Abstract:
Science journalism is a form of reporting that conveys news about science-related topics in a
simplified manner. Fields vary from health, environmental and animal science, amongst others.
As this field gradually broadens, the duty of science journalists to communicate verified
information to ordinary citizens has been amplified. Equally, this underpins the need for
scientists to communicate their work to the public, and take their work beyond academic circles
to the layman. This is often done by science journalists who have the expertise to report
scientific news in a fashion that is less technical. The main objectives of the study were to
assess the criteria used by the Namibian print media to determine the newsworthiness of
science news, and to determine the challenges and opportunities for the media in the science
journalism field. Furthermore, the study sought to examine the perceptions that scientists have
of the media. The study aimed to contribute to bridging the gap between scientists and the
public. This thesis includes an analysis of qualitative data collected from newspaper editors
from Namibia’s main newspapers. In addition, quantitative data were collected from scientists
in different fields. The key findings revealed that there is a communication gap between
journalists and scientists, stemming from mistrust and generally the lack of appreciation for
each other’s profession, which ultimately has an effect on the public’s consumption of science
news. It is recommended that various activities and tools be put in place to strengthen relations
between the media and scientists and ensure accuracy in the popularisation of science
