Science Reporting: Does Science Journalism exemplify Scientific Testimony?
T.Y. Branch
26 October 2023
Scientific testimony, a type of testimony based on epistemic grounds, is a cornerstone of science and modern societies. Seminal work on scientific testimony by Gerken (2022), elucidates how expertise or first-hand knowledge of science, can be used to distinguish different varieties of scientific testimony. Scientific testimony by non-experts to other non-experts falls under the subcategory of Public Scientific Testimony and Science Reporting more narrowly. To elucidate this type of testimony, Gerken utilizes exclusively science journalism as an example of Science Reporting; however, there are two features of this selection that must be acknowledged. First, recognition that science communication, carried out by bloggers, museum docents, documentarians etc. also provide examples of non-expert to non-expert communication, risking ‘Science Reporting’ too exclusive a title for the subcategory. And second, that norms for science journalism include an investigative or critical component that raise the question of whether critique counts as testimony, and more specifically scientific testimony.
