Field Methods and Expert Engagement in Science Journalism (Antarctic Case Study)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.28925/2524-2652.2026.115Abstract
The relevance of this study is driven by the interest in science journalism within the Ukrainian media landscape and the need to delineate the practical dimensions of reporting on scientific issues. The dissemination of scientific knowledge in Ukraine has been a subject of scholarly inquiry, focusing on several key areas: the state of popular science in the Ukrainian internet segment; science content trends in prominent popular-science outlets; the history of science popularization in independent Ukraine; European best practices in public engagement; the popularization of science under the extreme conditions and challenges posed by the war; and the integration of digital technologies into the promotion of scientific achievements. The aim of this article is to examine the process of knowledge acquisition by journalists from scientists, alongside the gathering of field-report material for popular science content. The specific objectives include analysing the impact of the professional environment on journalistic narrative construction; evaluating the influence of journalist-scientist communication on data gathering; exploring how the “field” context fosters thematic immersion; and assessing the tools for verification and the promotion of science-based media content. The study employs a multidisciplinary methodological framework, including participant observation, expert interviewing, theoretical abstraction and generalization, analysis, systematization, and synthesis. Furthermore, descriptive-analytical, case-study, and autoethnographic methods are utilized to provide a comprehensive analysis of the research problem. The article explores a journalist’s practical experience in interviewing researchers and conducting field reportage within the immediate environment of scientific exploration. It investigates the process of information acquisition and explicates the contextual frameworks and tools required to “translate” complex scientific discourse into an accessible, popular-science format. The results demonstrate that fieldwork and sustained engagement with the scientific community are essential for the effective popularization of knowledge.
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