As technology has advanced, scientists have increasingly been called upon to communicate their work in an exciting and engaging way to a wider audience. The rise of digital media and journalism has given an avenue for established and amateur science writers to share important developments in science, often with the help of visuals such as videos and demonstrative models. Science journalism in the digital age is a highly diverse entity, incorporating both expert-level reporting and entertaining layman-level storytelling.
In the early days of science communication, the primary means of acquiring knowledge of scientific discoveries was through books and limited newspapers, which, while useful, only reach a restricted audience. With the rise of computers and the internet, however, news and information can spread quickly and flexibly across digital networks. Digital media has opened up the possibility of science journalism by allowing the dissemination of topics in multiple formats. For example, many articles contain videos offering an interactive experience on topics such as astrophysics, and platforms such as YouTube and Instagram contain a wealth of expert-level and amateur science content.
Science
journalism has also gained a unique presence in the digital world through the
rise of “citizen science,” or the involvement of the public in the research
process. This has given the public unprecedented access to prominent scientific
research and theories, inciting curiosity and sparking interest in a wide
variety of scientific topics. This engagement with citizen science has been
especially beneficial for increasing the involvement of those traditionally
excluded from science, such as the disabled and persons of color, as well as
younger audiences.
The
advantages of digital media have also allowed journals and magazines to publish
scientific content to a larger audience than before. Popular magazines such as
National Geographic and Scientific American have taken advantage of the
possibilities of online platforms to reach an ever-growing audience for a wide
variety of topics related to the sciences. Moreover, digital science journalism
has the potential to reach a larger audience than before. Detailed articles can
now include concise summaries and visuals which can make complex topics more
accessible to a wider range of readers.
Additionally,
the implementation of “impact tracking” tools such as Article-Level Metrics
(ALM) allow science magazines and journals to track the reactions and
shareability of their articles, helping editors understand the impact their
articles have on the public and allowing them to gauge the success of certain
stories.



