News Coverage of Genetic Cloning

When Science Journalism Becomes Future-Oriented Speculation

Bibliographic Data

ID11372355
AuthorsJon Hyde (St. Michael's College, Colchester, VT), Jon E Hyde (Saint Michael's College, corresponding author)
Year2006
Volume30
Issue3
Pages229-250
Publication date2006-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Communication Inquiry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0196-8599 • E-ISSN: 1552-4612
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0196859906287934
OpenAlexW2131301072
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited18

This case study examines news coverage of genetic cloning in three major print newspapers and three major online news sources from 1996 to 1999. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to systematically assess issues of balance, sourcing, news focus, and language use in news articles about cloning. Four trends emerge from this study: a tendency to portray cloning as a technique and/or technology, a reliance on sources from research institutes and biotechnology companies, a use of language that depicts cloning in a positive light, and an overwhelming emphasis placed on the possible future benefits that may be associated with cloning. The author argues that these findings suggest a shift from conventional notions about what journalists do— report on events that have occurred. Instead, news reports about cloning involve speculative conjectures about potential benefits and possible futures. Such a shift may mean that a re-evaluation of journalistic practices is needed

Business · Cloning (programming · Focus (optics · Futures contract · Human cloning · Newspaper · Political science · Sociology · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Computer Science · Genetically Modified Organisms Research · Law · Media Studies and Communication

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