Standardized news selection, rigidly patterned reporting, and an outdated conception of the nature of the scientific enterprise have produced a misleading picture of science in the mass media. The ferment of scientific ideas, the revolutionary impact of scientific change, the variety of ways in which science has been practiced, and the fundamental importance of intellectual creativity in science have all been underplayed. Thoughtful, interpretive reporting based on a broad understanding of the history, philosophy, and sociology of science could vastly improve public understanding.
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