Rethinking Science Journalism After the Covid-19 Pandemic

Over the years, the relationship between science and information has been characterised by several complexities (De Semir 2000; Bauer, Bucchi 2007). In particular, the debates has been focused on the use of sensationalistic tones and narratives by journalists, or even more on the accusation of complying more with journalistic values rather than scientific ones (Greco, Pitrelli 2009). But it is just in recent times that this journalistic “field” and these topics has registered an increase in interest from social science scholars. The deep and numerous changes that scientific communication has to face today, even more than in the past, have led to the relevant transition from “a «pure» and conventional science journalism” to one “that wants to give added value to its readers by consulting authentic specialists”, according with the Russ-Mohl’s studies (2004: 266). In this context, the first problem is linked to the lack of truthfulness and authenticity of information due to the growing and the diffusion of fake news on the web (Agcom 2018; Vaccaro, Rizzuto, Brancato 2019). A further “crisis” factor of contemporary journalism is the exponential increase in the “speed” of current information, not only in the creation and diffusion of news, but especially in the access and assimilation of its contents (Hargreaves 2003; Rosenberg and Feldman 2008; Fenton 2010). Within the science journalism, particularly in the field of health, the effects of these two phenomena on readers/users become even more relevant (Brancato, Filetti 2018). In fact, it is not a coincidence if in recent months, on the occasion of the spread of the global emergency linked to the COVID-19, the World Health Organization has stressed that “the 2019-nCoV outbreak and response has been accompanied by a massive 'infodemic'” (WHO 2020). Taking into account these previous issues, the aim of this work will be to analyze two aspects that could represent the framework to develop a new path for science journalism in the contemporary era: a) the growing diffusion of web platforms addressed to “verify” the accuracy and correctness of science news (Graves, Nyhan, Reifler 2015; Brancato, Stolfi 2020); b) the possible link between these initiatives and the development of a type of journalism defined as “slow journalism” (Laufer 2011, 2014; Le Masurier 2015).