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Steak-umm makes a lot of salient points about science communication here, but we have to recognize that access to communications resources is often tightly restricted, especially on contentious issues. https://twitter.com/steak_umm/status/1248275141085270019
For instance, anti-censorship policies at federal agencies can prevent political appointees from blocking media access to experts.
Similarly, you may be a great climate communicator, but an ideological media outlet opposed to climate policy will never interview you.
Similarly, you may be a great climate communicator, but an ideological media outlet opposed to climate policy will never interview you.
A lot of people will say we need better media coverage, better public education, better science agency processes.
That's all true! But getting those things takes time, energy, money, resources and - yes - political power.
That's all true! But getting those things takes time, energy, money, resources and - yes - political power.
There's a tendency among science and tech folks to think we can just "solve" these problems with better communication and more expertise.
But you can't make progress on these issues until you recognize that they're fundamentally about power.
But you can't make progress on these issues until you recognize that they're fundamentally about power.
