Science and technology dissemination through Tamil newspapers: A study

A variety of mass media can play an important role in enhancing the knowledge level and quality lives of the common people. Especially the scientific knowledge provided by the mass media can help create a secular, equal and economically prosperous knowledge society, besides eliminating various kinds of social evils and biases. Science and Technology (S&T) information published by mass media could be an agent to social change. In India, both print and electronic media's contribution to the S&T is crucial. A general perception says that regional languages' media give no or minimal space for S&T news. The present study is an attempt to find out the facts and reasons in this regard. Four popular Tamil newspapers for the year 2008 were thoroughly analyzed and surprising facts found. They published only 3.5% of S&T news and they are mostly getting S&T stories from news agencies. They do not have enough dedicated, trained S&T reporters and writers. By and large, researchers and scientists are not media savvy. Absence of a clear policy to monitor S&T journalism also adds to the problem. The study suggests new ways to improve the situation so that S&T news get more importance in mass media.