Doha - Science journalists from 33 countries are meeting in Qatar to share experience and review training in reporting on health, environment and science at the Weill Cornell Medical College here.
The occasion also marked the launch of the first online course in science journalism in Arabic, English and French. Journalists or anyone interested in science journalism from anywhere in the world will be able to benefit from this new interactive learning tool.
Qatar Foundation, the host of this meeting has welcomed several local journalists to allow them the opportunity to explore how they can improve their skills in covering science and technology.
During the recording of an Al Jazeera TV Panel on Science Journalism, Ahmad Al Sheikh, Editor-in-Chief of the newsroom of Al Jazeera said that the two main things hampering the coverage of science in the Arab world were the reticence of Arab scientists to talk to journalists and the lack of competent science journalists.
He added that "science journalists will have a critical role to play to convince people that a country should spend 2.8 percent of its GNP on science".
Qatar and many countries of the Gulf are investing massively in education, scientific research, and innovation. Strengthening the capacity of journalists, newspapers, radio and television to report science and technology to the general public is very timely.
Several science journalists agreed that eventually the level of coverage of science should relate to the funding of scientific research. With this objective in mind, Qatar Foundation has taken the initiative to empower local as well as regional science journalism.
Some 60 journalists are involved as trainers or trainees in the flagship project SjCOOP (Science Journalism Co-op) of the World Federation of Science Journalists. The SjCOOP Project links experienced science journalists from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America with journalists interested in learning how to report science.
From February 4 to 10, some 15 Qatari journalists interested in reporting science, as well as journalists from Algeria, Australia, Canada, UAE, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Tanzania have joined the 60 SjCOOP science journalists to learn about science writing, how to interview scientists and organize themselves into associations.
During the week the science journalists will interview several Qatari scientists and researchers, write their stories and then compare them to discuss what makes a good science story.
The meeting in Doha has been made possible with the support and collaboration of the Qatar Foundation and the Al Jazeera Network.
The World Federation of Science Journalists is a federation of 36 associations of science journalists from all over the world with its headquarters in Gatineau, Canada.
© The Peninsula 2008
