Exploring the Impact of Science Communication on Scientific Knowledge Production: An Introduction

This chapter outlines the problem that the Yearbook volume addresses – the science/mass media relation in modern societies – and introduces the medialization concept as an approach to the study of mass media related changes in science both with regard to its institutional and epistemic characteristics. From a differentiation theory perspective we propose to shift from using “knowledge” as a basic concept to “communication” as a superior analytical distinction between science and other social spheres because focusing on communication brings different publics as its reference into the picture. This perspective allows sharpening the question which kinds of mutual relations between different systems really lead to the disappearance of one or the other, i.e. to a blurring of boundaries between science and the media. It enables the analyst to distinguish between any adaptations to “external” expectations and to locate them in organisations, roles or interactions. The central question is if the effects of science’s orientation towards the media – by incorporating mass media related criteria of relevance into communication strategies – remain limited to activities on the front stage produced just for public view or if they extend to the back stage, thus affecting the criteria of relevance in knowledge production.

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