Journalists in New Zealand and around the world have a new resource to help them unravel the often complex world of science.
The New Zealand Science Media Centre was launched last week to link journalists to science experts, manager Peter Griffin told a science communicators conference in Dunedin yesterday.
The Wellington-based centre, which has received $1.3 million in funding over four years from the Ministry for Science, Research and Technology, is managed by the Royal Society of New Zealand.
It offered a free database of accessible experts as well as video and still images, Mr Griffin said, and would also put scientists in touch with journalists by hosting regular press briefings on "big science issues" in the news.
Another task would be to gather local science comment and provide local contacts for science stories generated from overseas.
The centre's major advantage was its independence, he said.
"We don't want to shut the door on debate or set the agenda. What we want to do is expand the pool of non-biased, credible people journalists can approach for comment."
The centre was a first for this country, he said.
Similar centres operated in Britain and Australia and he hoped the database and the press conferences would be accessed by overseas journalists.
Most journalists in New Zealand were generalists rather than specialists, Mr Griffin said.
"We will probably be able to help the journalist who is thrown a science story at 4pm and requires a quick turnaround before a deadline."
The establishment of the centre fitted well with the evolving concept of the scientific world engaging with the public rather than trying to "sell science to the public", he said.
