As international science journalists meet in London, Geoff Watts examines progress towards greater public engagement with science.

English libel laws have become an international menace. More than 500 journalists from around the world have joined a call (1) to keep libel laws out of science and to urge changes in the English law, which has a wider jurisdiction than most, fewer defences and much higher costs. These force people threatened with libel to settle rather than defend themselves and have led to cases being brought in the London courts instead of in the countries where material is written and published.
 

"When swine flu struck swiftly in Mexico, it created a challenge not only for international public health officials but also for journalists around the world assigned to follow the unfolding story. They needed to explain, in the face of great uncertainty and a nonstop news cycle, what the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus was and the potential dangers it posed. It was a difficult story handled most capably by experienced health and science reporters". Thus begins a lucid editorial published in Science by Cristine Russell, senior fellow at Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and president of the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing. She'll be prominent among the experienced figures that will attend the WCSJ2009, so be on the look. In the meantime, you can read Cristine's piece clicking here.

Ben Goldacre (Bad Science), Vaughan Bell (MindHacks.com) and Petra Boynton (Dr. Petra, yes) are inviting to a troublemaker's fringe in one of London's pubs, after the conference on the night of July 1st. If you're in the mood, they're willing to "explain how and why mainstream media’s science coverage is broken, misleading, dangerous, lazy, venal, and silly". Sounds like fun, huh? Here's the invitation: World Conference of Science Journalists – Troublemakers Fringe, Penderel’s Oak Pub, Holborn, 1st July 8pm – Midnight

To accompany the celebration of the World Conference of Science Journalists, Nature has put online a special feature titled Science Journalism. The introductory text says that the craft faces an uncertain future. "But to what extent should scientists help — or care?", asks. The package includes not only Geoff Brumfiel's last march piece, but a new one, as well as a couple of editorials and several opinion pieces. It's worth the read -- and an invitation to begin the discussion - even before the conference starts!

Just so you don't accidentally miss it, Tim Radford has published an interesting review of Steven Pinker's The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature. You'll have occasion to meet Tim in the ever nearer conference. He'll be addressing delegates on two sessions, "The challenges of news reporting" and "Covering a disaster from Sichuan to Sri Lanka". Ah, here's the link to the review: "Are we prisoners of our genes?"