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First published online February 25, 2013

Is There a Medialization of Climate Science? Results From a Survey of German Climate Scientists

Abstract

The relation between science and the media has recently been termed a medialization of science. The respective literature argues that interaction of scientists with the media and journalists as well as scientists’ adaptation to media criteria has increased. This article analyzes whether German climate scientists are indeed “medialized.” The results of a survey among 1,130 scientists suggest that medialization phenomena exist in climate science but that they differ significantly among different subgroups. While media interactions are more common for high-ranking scientists, an adaptation to media criteria is more typical for scientists with less experience.

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Biographies

Ana Ivanova, MA, is a research associate in the research group “Media Constructions of Climate Change” at the University of Hamburg, “KlimaCampus.” She is currently conducting her PhD study on International Comparisons of Climate Change Coverage in the Mass Media.
Mike S. Schäfer is an assistant professor at the University of Hamburg’s Department of Journalism and Communications. He also heads the research group “Media Constructions of Climate Change” at Hamburg’s “KlimaCampus.”
Inga Schlichting, MA, is a research associate in the research group “Media Constructions of Climate Change” at the University of Hamburg, “KlimaCampus.” She is currently conducting her PhD study on the Credibility of Corporate Communication on Climate Change.
Andreas Schmidt, MA, is a research associate in the research group “Media Constructions of Climate Change” at the University of Hamburg, “KlimaCampus.” He is currently conducting his PhD study on Climate Justice Constructions in the Media.

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Article first published online: February 25, 2013
Issue published: October 2013

Keywords

  1. medialization
  2. science communication
  3. climate change
  4. survey
  5. Germany

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History

Published online: February 25, 2013
Issue published: October 2013

Authors

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Ana Ivanova
University of Hamburg, Germany
Mike S. Schäfer
University of Hamburg, Germany
Inga Schlichting
University of Hamburg, Germany
Andreas Schmidt
University of Hamburg, Germany

Notes

Ana Ivanova, KlimaCampus, University of Hamburg, Grindelberg 5, 20144 Hamburg, Germany. Email: [email protected]

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