Posted: November 28, 2007

Nanotechnology and the media: The inside story

(Nanowerk News) Is media coverage of nanotechnology's potential risks growing? If so, who or what is driving articles in national newspapers and newswires-environmental and consumer organizations, scientists, law makers, or industrial and financial groups? How do broadcast journalists decide to cover a nanotechnology story, especially one about possible risk-benefit tradeoffs? Do radio and television correspondents face special challenges reporting on a technology which most Americans do not know about and which is on a scale invisible to the human eye?
The Wilson Center's Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies will explore these and other questions at a program featuring National Public Radio science and technology reporter Nell Greenfieldboyce, and Lehigh University professor Sharon M. Friedman. Ms. Greenfieldboyce, who is heard regularly on Morning Edition and All Things Considered, will offer insights about covering nanotechnology-from government oversight to nano-cosmetics. Professor Friedman will present her latest results from tracking seven years of newspaper and wire service reporting of nanotechnology risks in the United States and United Kingdom, research she does in collaboration with Brenda P. Egolf of Lehigh University.
The event and live webcast will take place on Tuesday, December 18th at 1:00 p.m. in the 5th Floor Conference Room of the Woodrow Wilson Center (www.wilsoncenter.org/directions).
*** Webcast LIVE at www.wilsoncenter.org/nano ***
What: Nanotechnology & the Media: The Inside Story
Who: Nell Greenfieldboyce, Science & Technology Reporter, National Public Radio; Sharon M. Friedman, Ph.D., Professor and Director of the Science and Environmental Writing Program and Associate Dean, Lehigh University; Julia A. Moore, Deputy Director, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Moderator
When: Tuesday, December 18th, 2007, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (Lunch available at 12:30 p.m.)
Where: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 5th Floor Conference Room. 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004
Source: Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies