Alberta Innovates- Health Solutions

The problem of covering genetic research today compares to the difficulty of reporting on the development of electricity a century ago. . .

Genetics conference panelist and Globe and Mail science writer Stephen Strauss explains. "We know something is going on, we know it's important, we just don't know how to tell the story." Like the story of electricity, developments in genetics are rarely straightforward and the implications of them often unclear. "What would you report on? Would you report on the science? Would you report on the change in industry? What was the story?" he asks.

When stories on genetics research do appear in the news, they often seize on sensational aspects of a development. Mr. Strauss concedes that stories which are difficult to understand and which don't have immediate public appeal usually get bumped off the front page. Dolly the sheep, who became a "cloning star," is a rare case where developments in genetics research grabbed headlines, he says.

While the media may find it difficult to report on genetics research, newspapers and television still remain a common source of information for the public, says the University of Sheffield's Dr. Darren Shickle. He examines the scope of media coverage and its impact on public awareness and, ultimately, on the policy debate regarding ethical issues arising from it. "It's not clear how influential the media is in forming people's opinion about biotechnology," the media specialist says.

Mr. Strauss suggests that it is not the news media but Hollywood movies that really affect popular opinion of issues related to genetics research. "If you want to talk about what affects people's opinions, look at movies which can take an issue and put it in a framework where hopes and fears are expressed dramatically."

The implications of increased access to research developments may be difficult for the public to understand and their impact far-reaching, Dr. Shickle says. "This is one reason why it is very important to engage with the public in debate to see if they really do believe that we should be going down these sorts of lines in genetics."

Stephen Strauss is a science writer and columnist for the Globe and Mail national newspaper. He has lectured on journalism and science writing, and received numerous awards for his writing.

Dr. Darren Shickle is a Clinical Senior Lecturer in Public Health Medicine in the School of Health and Related Research at the University of Sheffield in England. His research interests are Public Health Ethics and Genetics.

Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics website: http://www.cmmt.ubc.ca/