Organizational Influence on Scientists' Efforts to Go Public: An Empirical Investigation. (February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marcinkowski, Frank; Kohring, Matthias; Fürst, Silke; Friedrichsmeier, Andres
• Is Part Of: Science communication. Volume 36:Number 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 56
• Page End: 80
• Publication Date: 2014-02
• Subjects: organization communication -- public relations -- quantitative analysis -- new governance of science -- medialization of science; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Knowledge, Sociology of -- Periodicals; Communication in science -- Periodicals; Communication of technical information -- Periodicals; Communication in medicine -- Periodicals; Information scientifique -- Périodiques; Information technique -- Périodiques; Communication en sciences sociales -- Périodiques; Communication en médecine -- Périodiques; 300.14
• DOI: 10.1177/1075547013494022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1075-5470

Abstract

This article contributes to the debate on the influence of organizational settings on scientists' media contact. Drawing on a quantitative survey of researchers ( n = 942) from 265 German universities, the results indicate that a large proportion of scientists from all disciplines participate regularly in the dissemination of research findings. The authors provide evidence that scientists' media efforts are influenced by how they adopt their university's desire to be visible in the media, as well as by the university's PR activities. The increased orientation toward news media is discussed in the light of the new governance of science within Europe.