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New media landscapes and the science information consumer

Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesPublished 12 August 2013Open access
Dominique Brossard
Citations428
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score3.41
SNIP2.38
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TL;DR

A snapshot of the current media landscape is provided and recent major research findings related to science communication in the online environment and their implications for science in the 21st century are reviewed.

Abstract

Individuals are increasingly turning to online environments to find information about science and to follow scientific developments. It is therefore crucial for scientists and scientific institutions to consider empirical findings from research in online science communication when thinking about science in the public sphere. After providing a snapshot of the current media landscape, this paper reviews recent major research findings related to science communication in the online environment and their implications for science in the 21st century. Particular emphasis is given to the bias introduced by search engines, the nature of scientific content encountered online, and the potential impact of the Internet on audiences' knowledge and attitudes toward science.

Keywords

Social Sciences