This is the archived SXSW 2012 schedule. Please see the current schedule here.

What Journalism Can Learn from Science

#sxsw #journosci

The scientific method revolutionized the world of truth-seeking. Yet journalism - which, like science, seeks truth - is far less rigorous. We’ll walk through why this gap has led to record levels of distrust in journalism, and why journalism that’s replicable, trackable, and reviewable can help to restore that trust.

To be clear, journalism isn't science. It's got tight deadlines and other limits on its ability to gather evidence, no peer review, and often, very little that resembles methodology. But online tools and new reporting techniques are enabling journalists to be much more scientific in their methods.

From the rise of database journalism, which adds empirical rigor to narrative journalism’s fog of anecdotes, to the emergence of accountability projects that permit tracking and peer review over time, we’ll outline a system of news that can help us better discern the truth amid a rising onslaught of information. We’ll focus our session on identifying solutions and painting a vivid and inspiring picture of what journalism can become.

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Presenters

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Gideon Lichfield Media Editor The Economist

Previously: physics/philosophy student, science writer, foreign correspondent, digital strategist, e-learning creator, documentary film buff, language nerd and NYU prof.
Currently: trying to bring it all together.

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Matt Thompson Editorial Prod Mgr NPR

I coach NPR member stations on digital strategy. Board member for Center for Public Integrity. Adjunct faculty at Poynter Institute. Proud Buffy fan.

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