The Over-Reliance on Foreign Science News in Developing Countries: Causes, Consequences and Solutions
Authors: Nguyen, A. and Tran, M.
Editors: Mellor, F.
Publisher: Routledge
Place of Publication: London
Abstract:This chapter explores a widely observed but largely unchartered issue at the heart of global science communication: the heavy dependence of the news media in the Global South on science news and information sources from the Global North. From Africa and Middle East to South America and developing parts of Asia, a large proportion of science news consumed in the South has been found to be translated or, at best, synthesised from foreign sources, especially media outlets based in the North. Although this science news structure bears many long-and short-term implications for local and global development, it has rarely been studied in any depth. Using Vietnam as a case in point, this chapter will review the current state, causes and consequences of the over-reliance on foreign science sources in the Global South before offering some thoughts on potential solutions to the problem. In general, such reliance is a double-edged sword: while it helps to enhance general awareness and understanding of global science developments in the Global South, it can have negative consequences that extend far beyond short-term damages like the above, including a neo-colonial South-North structure of science and knowledge dependency. To proceed with these arguments, we will extract recent research data from our content analysis of science news in Vietnamese online media during 2017-2018 and in-depth interviews with over 40 Vietnamese science journalists and news executives during 2012-2020
Source: Manual