KARACHI, June 8: Media experts at a workshop on “Science in mass media” urged Pakistani scientists to pay special attention to their interaction with mass media for valuable and accurate communication of scientific information. They noted that in a country like Pakistan, where many of the newspapers and journals lacked resources, science and mass media had got complementary role to play for an understandable, concise and immediate coverage of scientific enterprises.

Two former chairmen of mass communication department and a former chairman of botany department made presentations on the second day of the workshop, which would conclude on Thursday. Besides, two senior television programme producers talked about the stages of preparation of television programmes and status and impact of science-related programmes on audiences.

Prof Nisar Ahmad Zuberi stressed the need for launching a campaign for special coverage of researches and scientific developments in newspapers and television channels. He said that there was an overall need to improve the science journalism, while government should patronize the magazines and specialized journals focussing on scientific advancements.

He observed that there existed a gap between scientists and media people, which hindered the promotion of science and education in the country. Sometimes scientists did not want to discuss the things or issues with journalists and writers openly as they liked to work in isolation and considered it superfluous, he said.

Mentioning that science and communication are the key fields and topics of the present century, he stressed that efforts should be made to enhance the profitability aspects in the two sections by bridging the prevailing gap between the two trough interaction and proactive approaches.

Prof Tahir Masood said that two out of 402 periodicals and magazines covered the scientific topics, while only one English daily paper was bringing out weekly issue on science and technology. He pointed out that the East India Company had funded huge amount for transferring the scientific essays in local languages of sub-continent in 1813.

Prof Zakriya Sajid, who chaired the technical session on Wednesday, said that science bodies established by the government were not playing their due role in the promotion of science in the country. He said that there was need to present the scientific articles and essays in simple language with brevity for the masses so that changes in society and thinking of its people could be witnessed.

Dr Abdul Ghaffar and Dr Shakeel Farooqi also spoke at the session and suggested for partnerships among research institutions, private firms, media organizations and government for communicating scientific development to the public, which would ultimately help in cultivating a new vision of science in the country.

Television producers Iqbal Haider and Afifa Soofia Al Hussaini in their lectures said that television programmes on science should contain substance and focus on the society and its issues. Electronic media should telecast programmes and documentaries creating awareness about science and technology, irrespective of care for financial gains.

A couple of short-duration talk programmes were also recorded as part of the workshop for the orientation of participants of the workshop with TV productions related to science.

The last technical session and concluding session of the three-day national workshop would be held on Thursday.