Scientists' Reasons for Consenting to Mass Media Interviews: A National Survey

Abstract

Eight of 10 of 255 scientists polled had conducted interviews with the mass media, most often with newspapers. But many also had been interviewed by television, radio, and magazine reporters. Most scientists reported a willingness to allow media interviews in order to educate the public and to engender interest in the scientist's own specialty. This study finds differences between university and private industry scientists, but in general all agree that to educate the public is a respectable endeavor and to seek publicity for monetary gain is not.