The Director of Development at the British High Commission in Accra, Richard Sandall, underlined the importance of bridging the gap between scientific advances and public understanding.
According to him, the media can play a critical role in striving for excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) reporting which is necessary to shape the future.
βMost of us don’t read many scientific papers as they are published or attend scholarly symposia. There is often a big barrier between what scientists know and getting that information to the people who can use it β decision makers, businesses, activists or teachers. This barrier is like a void where information should be.”
The Director of Development said this on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the opening ceremony of a five-day residential capacity building training workshop for media professionals in Accra.
Sandall further urged collaboration between scientists and journalists to ensure accurate and engaging reporting of Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I).
βThe UK is a Science, Technology and Innovation superpower. Science and technology underpin our ambitions both at home and abroad. So society needs you. That’s why you might become a journalist. There are few stories more important than how our lives are being fundamentally changed, and few greater responsibilities than to report on it,β he said.
Sandall continued “Your task is not just to report scientific and technological breakthroughs, but also to translate the significance and impact for the wider public.”
He also called on media professionals in Ghana to adhere to the principles of accuracy, integrity and accessibility.
“We need a collective, global effort to build an informed society where science and technology serve the greater good,” concluded Richard Sandall.
The Media Capacity Building Programme: UK-Ghana Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy β Building capacity for excellence in STI is organized by the UK High Commission in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Ministry of Information (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The workshop brought together 20 journalists from around a dozen Media Houses with a common commitment to strengthen their STI reporting capabilities.
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