Study On The Effects Of Media In The Science And Technology Risk Communication

Science and Technology has a duality. It not only brings social ciivilzation and economic benefits to the mankind, it also brings many risks. In recent years, there are more and more problems related to science and technology risk, such as environmental deterioration, nuclear technology, transgenic technology, food safety issues etc., which proofs Beck’s view: we are entering a risk society. Even though audience perception of risk is largely dependent on the media about the risks of agenda setting, risk of uncertainty leads to fragmentation of risk which is often presented by media. In another words, the information itself is also treated as the risk source in the modern society.In the context of risk society, this article uses communication theories, philosophy of science and technology theories and sociology theories as basic theory. According to the related concepts of science and technology risk and risk communication, it is necessary to use literature analysis to find out the reasons of effects of media in science and technology risk. It points out several usual ways that media used, and try to enhance the function of source and reviewer by which science and technology risk will be spread in an effective and real way.The first chapter introduction, a clear purpose and significance of the research, this article combs with the topic-related research achievements and choose media as an entry point to realize effective communication in the science and technology risk. The second chapter through the trait, influence, communication ways of science and technology risk, technology and make a conclusion: the science and technology emerges in the all aspects of society. If the audience does not know the risk in advance, when the risk comes, they will have economic lose, they will suffer health problems, even they will experience social unrest. This chapter aims to emphasize the importance of media in the science and technology risk communication. The third chapter analyzes the current situation of the media in the science and technology risk communication. Firstly, it compares two media types: traditional media and new media. The traditional media is relatively simple complying with the “communicator” to “reviewer”,meanwhile, new media pays more attention to interact between “communicator” and “reviewer”. Second, it analyzes usual reporting styles media used in the science and technology risk, including dramatic way, selective content, timing, diverse perspective, and images and video. Different ways of reporting leads to different propagation effects. Finally, it analyzes three main factors: science and technology experts, the government, and the audience which have a great effect on propagation effects of media. The fourth chapter describes the ways that media used to construct science and technology risk. With Renn’s diagram of risk influence, this chapter analyzes that the audience expect media to report real, objective science and technology risk. However, because of the problems of “source”, the propagation effects of science and technology will be weaken. Plus, the condition and geographical environment of “source” sometimes prevents the spread of science and technology risk. The fifths chapter combines propagation ways of media with science and technology, the government, the audience together aiming to achieve a good interactive situation by some specific suggestions.