Explaining research to the public

Science journalism explains and classifies the results for interested non-specialists. It is therefore a category within journalism that ‘translates’ complex academic and scientific concepts into language that can be understood by the general public.

Science journalists work in various media outlets, including newspapers, magazines, television, radio, online platforms and social media formats.

What is science journalism?


Journalists in this sector report on:

• New insights and other
• Research projects
• Studies and their results
• Specific researchers and institutions
• Impacts of academia and science on society

They explain, for example, how artificial intelligence functions, the new technologies being used in medicine or how climate research is conducted. 

Some universities, such as the , offer as a study programme. Future science journalists can therefore learn the craft of scientific writing. Many of them already come from a scientific background or have specialised in technical or data journalism.

What are examples of science journalism?

Well-known examples in Germany are the science editorials in the and newspapers: they regularly report on current research topics. The ‘ magazine offers journalism relating to a wide range of scientific topics. Television programmes like and explain scientific content in a comprehensible manner.

Science journalist Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim became very well-known due to her scientific content on YouTube. Podcasts like ‘Forschergeist’ and ‘Methodisch Inkorrekt!’ are dedicated to journalism that explains science.

Science journalism is indispensable in terms of science communication. It helps to promote society’s understanding of scientific processes and findings, and it provides information regarding important developments and debates within .