Code Sheet Nano Tech

7/29/2019 Code Sheet Nano Tech

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Nanotechnology and News Production Newspaper Article Coding Frame

SPSS Variable

1. Newspaper npaper2. Daily/Sunday npaperd3. Date Published date4. Page Number page5. Newspaper Section (where available) section

- Main News Story- Feature Article- Editorial/Comment/Columnist- Letter- Advertisment- Review- Business- Other

6. Number of words including headline (where available) length7. Reporter/Author (where available) report8. Reporter/Author Designation (where available) design

- Science Editor/Correspondent- Health Editor/Correspondent- Environment Editor/Correspondent- Technology Editor/Correspondent- General/Other- Academic/Science Writer/Personality/Interest Group

9.

Occurrences of keyword Nano key1n

10.Occurrences of keyword Nanotechnology key2nt11.Occurrences of keyword Grey Goo key3gg12.Occurrences of keyword Nanobots/robots key4nb13.Type of source document/s refereed to typesd

- Research Report/s- Film/TV/Computer Programme/Book- Adapted from other media


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- Conference/Scientific Organisation material- Journal paper- Funding Announcement- Other

14.Profession of first source (person) referred to prof1- Scientist/ Researcher- Official Spokesperson- Other medical/scientific expert- Religious leader- Interested party/personality/academic- Politician- Business- Public/relative/sufferer

15.Profession of Second source (person) referred to prof2As above

16.Profession of Third source (person) referred to prof3As above

17.Profession of Forth source (person) referred to prof4As above

18.Profession of Fifth source (person) referred to prof5As above

19.Source quoted or cited sourceq20.Number of sources (persons) referred to nosource21.Dominant news frame frame

- Scientific Discovery or Project- Medical Discovery or Project- Prince Charless comments- Social Implications and Risks- Business Story- Funding of Nano- Celebratory- Education/Careers- Science Fiction and Popular Culture- Other

22.Dominant news tone tone


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- Benefits Outweigh Risks- Risks Outweigh Benefits- Risks/Benefits need to be weighed- Technical Limits to progress

23.Specific source documents referred to docu24.Identity of first source quoted (person) person125.Identity of second source quoted (person) person226.Identity of third source quoted (person) person327.Identity of forth source quoted (person) person428.Identity of fifth source quoted (person) person529.Focus of article focus

- Nanotechnology as main focus- Nanotechnology as secondary focus- Nanotechnology mentioned in passing- Nanotechnology used as a metaphor/sign/signifier- Other


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NANOTECHNOLOGIES, NEWS PRODUCTION AND

COVERAGE; SCIENTISTS VIEWS

Please answer these questions using the tick boxes and spaces provided.

1) What is your professional title and area of expertise?

2)

How long have you been working in areas related to nanoscience ornanotechnologies?

3) Have you read any national newspaper coverage of nanotechnology in the past twoyears?(Please indicate as appropriate)

Yes, I have seen national newspaper coverage of nanotechnologies.

No, I have not seen any national newspaper coverage of nanotechnologies.

(If no, please move on to question five)

4) Would you describe newspaper coverage of nanotechnologies and nanoscience asgenerally? (Please indicate as appropriate)

a) AccurateInaccurate

b) Sensationalised

Balanced


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c) Detrimental to scienceBeneficial for science

Further comments

5) Have you been approached to become involved with or provide comment for anynewspaper coverage of nanotechnologies?(Please indicate as appropriate)

Yes, I have been approached to contribute to newspaper coverage.

No, I have not been approached to contribute to newspaper coverage.(If no, please move on to question nine)

6) Did you go on to contribute to newspaper coverage?(Please indicate as appropriate)

Yes, I have contributed to newspaper coverage.

No, I did not contribute to newspaper coverage.(If no, please move on to question nine)

7) What type/s of newspaper coverage have you been involved with?News Article

Feature Article

Business Article

Education

Book Review

Other (please state)


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8) Have you been generally satisfied with the newspaper coverage you have beeninvolved with?(Please indicate as appropriate and add further comments if necessary)

Yes, I was satisfied with the media coverage I was involved with.

No, I was unsatisfied with the media coverage I was involved with.

9) Would any of the following influence your choice NOTto take part in newspapercoverage?(Please indicate as appropriate)

The quality of the source it was to be used in(i.e. tabloid or broadsheet newspaper).

Practical reasons (i.e. time).

Appearance to professional peers.

Concern over misrepresentation/misunderstanding.

Choice not to become involved in wider debate.

Lack of media/public understandingof nanotechnologies.

Other (Please state)


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10)What do you think the impact of nanotechnology will be in the next twenty years?(Please tick one or more boxes)

Improve our way of life

Have no effect on our way of life

Make life worse

Depends what it is used for

Dont know

11)Finally, we would like to know your views on the following statements which havebeen extracted from various publications focusing on nanotechnology. Please add

some general comments after each statement and/or respond to the questions whichfollow them.

Media coverage of nanotechnologies has invariably raised the spectre of grey goo adoomsday scenario in which nanoscale robots self-replicate out of control, producingunlimited copies of themselves, consuming all available material and ultimately laying waste tothe planet.

(The Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering. Nanoscience and nanotechnologies:

opportunities and uncertainties. July 2004 page 109).

a) Why do you think terms like Grey Goo or nanoscale robots appear in so manynews reports?

b) Where the reporting of nanotechnology is concerned, what sort of responsibilitiesdo journalists have to the public?


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Considering past experiences of industry and government mismanagement in this area(notably through GM-related controversy), nano-advocates would do well to sit up and take

note. For, although an externally imposed nanotech moratorium seems both unpractical andprobably damaging at present, industry may find such a fate virtually self-imposed if they donot take the issue of public acceptance seriously.

(Greenpeace. Future Technologies, Todays Choices Nanotechnology, Artificial Intelligence andRobotics; A technical, political and institutional map of emerging technologies. July 2003 page 41).

c) Do you think nanoscience and nanotechnologies have the potential to generate publicconcern and media controversy similar to that which surrounded GM crops andfood?

d) What impact do you think the coverage of GM food and crops has had on thewillingness of scientists to talk to the media?

The latest scare is over the study of nanotechnology - changing and adapting the very atoms

and molecules of life. Scientists see it as an opening of nature's toolbox to make newsubstances and advance things already created - from plants to plastic - by subtly changingtheir properties. While Tony Blair and Sainsbury have talked up the progress it could bringfrom medicine to computers, critics, among them the Prince of Wales, fear that Earth couldbe wiped out by a "grey goo" catastrophe, caused by an explosion of self-replicating mini-robots.

(Riddell, M. THE SCIENCE MINISTER HITS BACK AT CRITICS. . . AND TELLS PRINCECHARLES TO STOP MEDDLING; LORD SAINSBURY: MY WORK FOR LABOUR ISVITAL . . . THAT'S WHY I DO IT FOR NO PAY. The Express June 16 2003 p.18.)


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e) How influential do you believe Prince Charless views are on news media coverage ofnanotechnologies?

f) How much influence do non-governmental organisations and pressure groups haveon news stories on nanotechnologies?

g) How much influence do non-governmental organisations and pressure groups haveon government policy on nanotechnologies?

The breakthroughoffers the strongest indication yet that it will eventually be possible tobuild tiny medical "nanosubs" that hunt down tumours and germs before delivering theirdrugs. Although such a "smart drug" or "doctor in a cell" is decades away, the prospect isconsidered among the most exciting of all the medical applications of nanotechnology. It

would allow doctors to target disease much more precisely and completely than before.

(Henderson, M. (2004) A very, very small step to beating the Big C. The Times April 292004 p.3.)

h) In your view, what is the most helpful way to explain nanotechnologies to the public?


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i) How informed do you think the public are about nanotechnologies?Very Informed

Informed

Dont Know

Uninformed

Very Uniformed

j) Is it realistic for scientists to engage in dialogue with the public aboutnanotechnologies?

Very Realistic

Realistic

Dont Know

Unrealistic

Very Unrealistic

Are there any other comments you would like to add about news production and coverageof nanotechnologies or this research?

Do you know any other scientists or colleagues who may be interested in taking part in thisresearch?

Thank you for your comments and time.


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We will also be carrying out short interviews with some scientists following thisquestionnaire. Are you interested in being contacted to take part in such an interview?(Please indicate as appropriate)

Yes, I would be happy to be contacted to take part in a short interview.

No, I would not like to be contacted again.

Are you happy for the comments you have made here to be attributed to you? (Pleaseindicate as appropriate)

Yes, I am happy to be identified next to my

comments in research findings and publications.

No, I would like my participation in this research

to remain strictly confidential.


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NANOTECHNOLOGIES, NEWS PRODUCTION AND

COVERAGE; JOURNALISTS VIEWS

Please answer these questions using the tick boxes and spaces provided.

1) What is your job title?(For example; science correspondent, health editor, politicalcorrespondent etc.)

2) How long have you been working in areas related to the media?

3) Which publications do you write for?

4) Have you personally written or contributed to articles focusing on nanoscience ornanotechnologies in the past two years?

Yes, I have written or contributed to articles focusing on

nanoscience or nanotechnologies.

No, I have not written or contributed to articles focusing on

nanoscience or nanotechnologies.

(If no, please move to question six.)

5) If yes, can you give examples of what generated this coverage?(For example; othernews coverage, the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering report, the

interest of H.R.H. Prince Charles etc.)


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6) If you were compiling an article on nanoscience or nanotechnologies NOW, whomwould you ideally like to consult as sources from the following list?(Please indicate

those sources you would be likely to consult and add further examples of persons

you would like to include)

Nanotechnologists, scientists or researchers working inNanotechnology centres.

Politicians like Lord David Sainsbury or Dr Ian Gibson. Representatives of scientific bodies like The Royal Society.

Representatives from press offices like The Science Media Centre.

Representatives of pressure groups like The ETC Group.

Industry Representatives Members of the Public. Other (Please state).

7) When researching an item on nanoscience or nanotechnologies what types ofdocuments would you utilise?(For example, papers from scientific or medical

journals, popular science magazines like New Scientist, publications from press offices

like the Science Media Centre etc.)


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8) What do you think the impact of nanotechnology will be in the next twenty years?(Please tick one or more boxes)

Improve our way of life

Have no effect on our way of life

Make life worse

Depends what it is used for

Dont know

9) How interested are you personally in nanoscience and nanotechnologies?Very Interested

Interested

Indifferent

UninterestedVery Uninterested

10)Finally, we would like to know your views on the following statements which havebeen extracted from various publications focusing on nanotechnology. Please add

some general comments after each statement and/or respond to the questions which

follow them.

The Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering report Nanoscience and

nanotechnologies: opportunities and uncertainties(July 2004 page 109) states,

Media coverage of nanotechnologies has invariably raised the spectre of grey

goo a doomsday scenario in which nanoscale robots self-replicate out of control,

producing unlimited copies of themselves, consuming all available material and

ultimately laying waste to the planet.

a) Why do you think terms like Grey Goo or nanoscale robots appear in so manynews reports?


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b) In your view, what is the most helpful way to explain nanotechnologies to the public?

c) Where the reporting of nanotechnology is concerned, what sort of responsibilitiesdo journalists have to the public?

Greenpeace, in their publication Future Technologies, Todays Choices

Nanotechnology, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics; A technical, political and

institutional map of emerging technologies(July 2003 page 41) suggest,

Considering past experiences of industry and government mismanagement in

this area (notably through GM-related controversy), nano-advocates would do

well to sit up and take note. For, although an externally imposed nanotech

moratorium seems both unpractical and probably damaging at present, industry

may find such a fate virtually self-imposed if they do not take the issue of public

acceptance seriously.

d) Do you think nanoscience and nanotechnologies have the potential to generate publicconcern and media controversy similar to that which surrounded GM crops and

food?

e) What impact do you think the coverage of GM food and crops has had on thewillingness of scientists to talk to the media?


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The non-governmental organisation the ETC Group in The Big Down: Atomtech -

Technologies Converging at the Nano-scale(January 2003 page 77) made the

following comments,

Grey Goo refers to the obliteration of life that could result from the accidental

and uncontrollable spread of self-replicating assemblers. Bill Joy and others have

cautioned that the self-replicating miniature robots, though invisible to the

human eye, could result in a kind of Grey Goo if their multiplication ever got out

of control. Armies of blue goo, or destructive nanomachines, have even beenproposed as a law enforcement measure.

f) How much influence do non-governmental organisations and pressure groups haveon news stories on nanotechnologies?

g) How much influence do non-governmental organisations and pressure groups haveon government policy on nanotechnologies?

Professor Mark Welland, in an article in The Financial Times (Dont be afraid of

the grey goo April 30th 2003) said,

Grey goo, nanobots, a moratorium on nanotechnology: it seems that science

fiction has displaced science fact. The recent concerns voiced by Prince Charles

over the societal implications of nanotechnology, combined with comparisons to

the debate over genetically modified food, make uncomfortable reading for

those of us engaged in nanotechnology research.

h) How influential do you believe Prince Charless views are on news media coverage ofnanotechnologies?


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i) How informed do you think members of the public are about nanotechnologies?Very Informed

Informed

Dont Know

Uninformed

Very Uniformed

j) Is it realistic for scientists to engage in dialogue with members of the public aboutnanotechnologies?

Very Realistic

Realistic

Dont Know

Unrealistic

Very Unrealistic

Are there any other comments you would like to add about news production and coverage

of nanotechnologies or this research?

Thank you for your comments and time.

We will also be carrying out short interviews with some journalists following this

questionnaire. Are you interested in being contacted to take part in such an interview?

(Please indicate as appropriate)

Yes, I would be happy to be contacted to take part in a short interview.

No, I would not like to be contacted again.

Are you happy for the comments you have made here to be attributed to you?(Pleaseindicate as appropriate)


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Yes, I am happy to be identified next to my comments in

research findings and publications.

No, I would like my participation in this research to

remain strictly confidential.


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PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET: Taking Part in an Interview

TTHHEERREESSEEAARRCCHHTTIITTLLEE - NNAANNOOTTEECCHHNNOOLLOOGGYY AANNDD NNEEWWSS PPRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN:: SSCCIIEENNTTIISSTTSS,,

JJ OOUURRNNAALLIISSTTSS AANNDD EEDDIITTOORRSS VVIIEEWWSS

TTHHEEPPUURRPPOOSSEE OOFF TTHHEERREESSEEAARRCCHH - The aim of this research is to advance knowledgeand understanding of the production and coverage of news about nanotechnology. Itwill ascertain how journalists, editors and scientists respectively, see their roles inthe production and coverage of news about nanotechnology and medicine, and whatthey identify as the key factors affecting the nature of news reporting.

WWHHOO IISS OORRGGAANNIISSIINNGG TTHHEE SSTTUUDDYY?? The study has received funding from the Economicand Social Research Council and involves Dr Stuart Allan, School of Cultural

Studies, University of the West of England Bristol, Dr Alison Anderson and ProfessorAlan Petersen based at the School of Sociology, Politics and Law, University ofPlymouth. The project also involves an Advisory Committee comprising sevenrepresentatives of relevant user groups and scholars of international standing. Thestudy is being carried out between March 2004 and August 2005, but yourparticipation will not be required after this interview.

WWHHAATT WWIILLLL HHAAPPPPEENN AATT TTHHEE IINNTTEERRVVIIEEWW?? The interview will last for approximately forty-five minutes and you will be asked for your views regarding a number of issuesrelated to media coverage of nanotechnology. You may refrain from answering anyquestions, withdraw prior comments, or end the interview at any time without giving

the researcher your reasons for this.

CCOONNFFIIDDEENNTTIIAALLIITTYY The researchers will be the only people with access to theinformation you provide. The information will remain strictly confidential and the datawhich contributes to publications or research findings will not identify participantsunless explicit permission is granted.

If you would like to see the results of the research there will be the opportunity foryou to do so upon request.

If you have any further queries please contact Clare Wilkinson at any time by email,[email protected] by telephone on 01752 233236. Alternativelypostal enquiries can be sent to,

Clare WilkinsonSchool of Sociology, Politics and LawUniversity of PlymouthDrake CircusPlymouth PL4 8AA

If you are happy to take part in an interview please now complete the form attached.

Thank you for taking part in this research. 06/10/04


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Interview Consent Form

Title of Project: NNAANNOOTTEECCHHNNOOLLOOGGYY AANNDD NNEEWWSS PPRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN:: SSCCIIEENNTTIISSTTSS,,

JJ OOUURRNNAALLIISSTTSS AANNDD EEDDIITTOORRSS VVIIEEWWSS

Name of Researcher: Clare Wilkinson

I confirm that I have read and understood the Participant Information Sheet Taking

Part in an Interview dated 06/10/04 for the above research.

I understand that I am voluntarily taking part in this research and free to withdraw atany time.

I agree to take part in an interview for the above study.

I would like my identity to remain strictly confidential.

I give consent for my identity to accompany my comments in thedissemination of the research project.

Name of Interviewee ...

Signature

Date

Name of Researcher Clare Wilkinson

Signature

Date

Please fill in your name, signature and date on both copies of this consent

form. Also indicate if you would like your identity to remain confidential or to

accompany your comments. Return one copy to me at the interview, and keep

one copy for yourself. Thank you.

Code Sheet Nano Tech

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