History of the Science Media Centre
Science and technology are fundamental to transforming our economy and improving our well being. As part of the strategy to engage New Zealanders with science and technology, in its 2007-2010 Statement of Intent, the Ministry of Research, Science & Technology (MoRST) announced a three-year pilot Science & Technology Media Centre for New Zealand.
Following an open call for expressions of interest, the Royal Society was awarded the bid to develop and operate the Science Media Centre. After approximately three months of consultation with media, the scientific community and other stakeholders, a strategic plan was developed that identified priorities and activities for the centre.
The New Zealand Science Media Centre was launched to the media on 30 June 2008 and officially opened on 1 July 2008.
The SMC was conceptualised on the success of the Science Media Centres in both the UK and Australia which, since their establishment, have successfully promoted the voices, stories and views of the scientific community to their national news media.
Our SMC Annual Review 2009 (click to download)
Our Terms of Reference
1. Preamble
• Strong and transparent links between the media and science and technology sectors are important in a modern society.
• Science and technology (S&T) cover a vast territory, from mathematics engineering and business through to health, social sciences and the environment. Across these areas S&T play a key role in driving advances that significantly impact on the way we live our lives.
• It is important therefore that society is aware of the role that S&T can offer on a range of topics. It is also important for society to consider and debate potential challenges that may emerge around new and emerging areas of S&T.
2. Role
• The Science and Technology Media Centre (STMC) will facilitate links between the media and science so that the media has easy access to relevant scientific information. The Centre will support existing media as well as new and emerging media channels.
• The STMC will facilitate these links by ascertaining the needs of the media and structuring its operations to meet these needs.
3. Functions
The functions of the STMC will include:
• Being a first port of call for media that want science and technology based information.
• Proactively providing timely information and material on science and technology topics.
• Developing S&T reporting capability in the New Zealand media.
• Promoting cultural change within the New Zealand media in support of professional S&T reporting in New Zealand.
• Providing advice and support for people within the science and technology sector on how to engage with the media
4. Scope
• The focus of the centre is the media – particularly sectors of the media and their staff that don’t have specialised S&T capability.
• The STMC will primarily deal with New Zealand RS&T but international RS&T can be included where there is a strong connection with or relevance to New Zealand.
• The STMC’s focus on the media will primarily be on the working media. Training and capacity building for journalists will be a secondary priority.
• The STMC will not provide a service for the public, or for the education community, although some resources could be accessed and used by them.
5. Operating principles
• The STMC needs to add unique value over and above the activity already occurring within the RS&T sector. It may co-ordinate, facilitate, enhance and/or complement but not duplicate the communications undertaken by others.
• Where the STMC is addressing issues that reasonably appear to lie within the realm of another institution or institutions, the STMC should focus on cross-sector issues rather than on topics the individual research organisations can, or should be, promoting themselves.
• The STMC will not take any particular standpoint or position on RS&T issues.
• The STMC will not lobby for the government or science and technology sector.
• The STMC will not take any particular standpoint or position on matters related to RS&T funding policy and management.
• The STMC will be open and transparent about its funding sources.
• The STMC will operate to the highest ethical standards.
• The STMC will operate in a way that is responsive and transparent.
6. Independence
• The STMC will operate as a stand alone unit within the Royal Society of New Zealand.
• The Manager of the STMC will report to the Chief Executive of the Royal Society of New Zealand and will be independent from the other operations of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
• In its work the STMC will be editorially independent from: the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology and any other government agency; the Royal Society of New Zealand; and from any organisation that funds, provides content to or in any way supports the STMC.
• Reflecting the taxpayers’ investment in the STMC, the Royal Society will be accountable to the Ministry for the efficient operation of the Centre.
• The STMC will ensure it does not appear to favour any particular medium, media outlet/s or institutions.
7. Advisory board
The role of the advisory board will be to:
• Provide advice to the chief executive of RSNZ on the activities and scope of the STMC within the terms of reference.
• Act as independent strategic advisors for the STMC and advocates for the professional reporting of science.
• Provide a level of risk mitigation through their status as independent advisors.
The Advisory Board will operate under its own terms of reference which will be decided by the President of the Royal Society of New Zealand. The Advisory Board will comprise at least five members and include representatives from the media, science and technology and business sectors.
May 2008
