大象传媒

The 大象传媒 Trust has today announced it has selected Professor Steve Jones to lead its forthcoming review of impartiality and accuracy in the 大象传媒's coverage of science. It has also published the formal for the review, which will look at the 大象传媒's coverage of science across television, radio and online, particularly where it relates to public policy or matters of controversy.

The review will take in news and current affairs, as well as factual output across a wide range of programmes including science and general strands and series, natural history output, one-off documentaries, together with news and opinion from the 大象传媒 website.

As Professor of Genetics and head of the Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment at University College London, Prof Jones will be the sole lead in this review. His background is in evolution and on the forces promoting genetic diversity. He was selected on the basis of his academic credentials, of his knowledge of the media and his reputation amongst the scientific community. He is an established commentator on scientific issues across both broadcast and print media.

Richard Tait, chair of the Trust's Editorial Standards Committee, said:

"A review of this profile and importance should be led by someone of Steve's calibre. I'm delighted he has agreed to be involved."

Professor Jones said:

"Science is by nature a field full of dispute; this is how it advances. Dispute is not the same as bias, though: and a bias towards optimism or pessimism is a real danger, both in the public presentation of science, and in the beliefs of scientists themselves. The 大象传媒's job is to avoid both those extremes and I look forward to sampling some of its huge coverage of physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, geology and more to see how well it is doing its job."

The review will consider impartiality and accuracy through analysis of the coverage itself, interviews with those involved, feedback from the Trust's Audience Councils and audience research. The findings will be published in Spring 2011.

Ends.

Notes to Editors

Professor Steve Jones

An expert in human genetics, Prof Jones was head of the department of Genetics & Biometry, UCL from1990 to 1994, and he is currently head of the department of Genetics, Environment & Evolution. He is Vice-President of the UK Genetics Society and from 2001-2007 was President of the Galton Institute. Prof Jones is currently a Trustee and Board Member of the UK Stem Cell Foundation, of the Charles Darwin Foundation, of the Society of Authors and of the British Council and President-Elect of the Association for Science Education.

Prof Jones is a regular contributor to radio, television and newspapers on a variety of scientific subjects, and recently appeared in a Radio 4 series on the legacy of Darwin, presented by Melvin Bragg. He has published many scientific papers and has authored or part-authored 11 books. He gives frequent lectures for schools and universities around the world, including the 1991 Reith Lecture on "The Language of the Genes&.

Prof Jones holds a BSc and a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and has a variety of honorary degrees. He is a Fellow of the Linnean Society, and an Honorary Fellow of the British Science Association (formerly British Association) and of the Institute of Biology.

Timetable

January 2010 Review announced

February 2010 Author appointed

March 2010 Terms of reference agreed

Spring 2010 Content analysis begins

Summer/Autumn 2010 Author gathers evidence

Engagement work begins

Audience Council engagement

Winter 2010 Author analysis

Spring 2011 Assessment finalised and presented to the Trust

Spring 2011 Executive response presented to the Trust

Spring 2011 Report published