This article originally appeared at The Association of British Science Writers.
ABSW is planning to strengthen ties with its twin association — the Uganda Science Journalists Association (USJA) — hoping to help train science journalists in Uganda. This partnership is the result of the World Federation of Science Journalists' (WFSJ) Science journalism COOPeration (SjCOOP) project, which aims to develop science journalism in Africa and the Arab world. USJA has been participating in this project as an ABSW 'twin' since it joined WFSJ in 2007.
Connie St Louis, ABSW chair, says that Ugandan delegates will attend the UK Conference of Science Journalists in 2012 where they will get additional training and pick up more skills. They will also get an opportunity to say what they need, and what they would like to do in terms of partnering with the ABSW.
William Odinga, USJA chairman says: "There is a lot of experience in ABSW from which USJA stands to gain. If the partnership is strengthened, especially through sharing of information, certainly the rich knowledge of British science writers will help nurture science journalists in Uganda where the concept of science journalism is relatively new."
USJA arranges "training opportunities, especially in partnership with science based institutions, to equip journalists with the necessary skills for science reporting," says Odinga.
It was founded in Kampala in November 2005 at a media meeting discussion about the spread of bird flu, in order to create a forum for discussion between science journalists and scientists.
Before this, access to scientists had been difficult, Odinga says. "They have for long feared that journalists would misrepresent them."
"One of the key challenges for Uganda science writers has been to get their story published. Editors would not welcome science related stories saying they were boring," Odinga says.
However, "the rise and rise of science journalism in Uganda" has been linked to raising public awareness of issues such as environmental activism, food security and HIV/AIDS. Odinga says that "the basic role of a science journalist in Uganda is to make scientific information simple and accessible to the public".
Yet, all journalism in Uganda is still affected by political censorship and corruption, he says.
"For example, a story about a powerful politician or businessman degrading a wetland may not be given a chance by media establishments for [fear of] their own survival. What USJA does is to continue encouraging journalists to produce quality science stories without fear or favour."
Odinga is optimistic about the development of science writing in Uganda — awareness about the importance of science is increasing, even among the politicians and the government, he says.
ABSW is planning to strengthen ties with its twin association — the Uganda Science Journalists Association (USJA) — hoping to help train science journalists in Uganda. This partnership is the result of the World Federation of Science Journalists' (WFSJ) Science journalism COOPeration (SjCOOP) project, which aims to develop science journalism in Africa and the Arab world. USJA has been participating in this project as an ABSW 'twin' since it joined WFSJ in 2007.
Connie St Louis, ABSW chair, says that Ugandan delegates will attend the UK Conference of Science Journalists in 2012 where they will get additional training and pick up more skills. They will also get an opportunity to say what they need, and what they would like to do in terms of partnering with the ABSW.
William Odinga, USJA chairman says: "There is a lot of experience in ABSW from which USJA stands to gain. If the partnership is strengthened, especially through sharing of information, certainly the rich knowledge of British science writers will help nurture science journalists in Uganda where the concept of science journalism is relatively new."
USJA arranges "training opportunities, especially in partnership with science based institutions, to equip journalists with the necessary skills for science reporting," says Odinga.
It was founded in Kampala in November 2005 at a media meeting discussion about the spread of bird flu, in order to create a forum for discussion between science journalists and scientists.
Before this, access to scientists had been difficult, Odinga says. "They have for long feared that journalists would misrepresent them."
"One of the key challenges for Uganda science writers has been to get their story published. Editors would not welcome science related stories saying they were boring," Odinga says.
However, "the rise and rise of science journalism in Uganda" has been linked to raising public awareness of issues such as environmental activism, food security and HIV/AIDS. Odinga says that "the basic role of a science journalist in Uganda is to make scientific information simple and accessible to the public".
Yet, all journalism in Uganda is still affected by political censorship and corruption, he says.
"For example, a story about a powerful politician or businessman degrading a wetland may not be given a chance by media establishments for [fear of] their own survival. What USJA does is to continue encouraging journalists to produce quality science stories without fear or favour."
Odinga is optimistic about the development of science writing in Uganda — awareness about the importance of science is increasing, even among the politicians and the government, he says.
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