ENDANGERED SPECIES - SCIENCE WRITERS IN THE CANADIAN DAILY PRESS

The last comprehensive study of Canadian science journalists and scien ce reporting was done over 20 years ago (Dubas and Martel 1973). A mor e recent content analysis of seven major Canadian dailies found most s cience stories are ''hard'' news in style and originate from wire sour ces (Einsiedel 1992). This 1994 survey of 105 of Canada's daily Englis h-language newspapers and their commitment to science journalism revea led a general weakening and dilution of reporter allocation. Over 50 p ercent of Canadian dailies did not allocate a science reporter. Only 1 8 full-time science reporters were identified. A follow-up of 45 journ alists covering science at least half-time revealed most covered scien ce policy. The vast majority had no science training. Time problems an d competing demands hindered professional development. Confirming sugg estions of previous literature, this study also indicates the Canadian daily newspaper structure is not supportive of the style of reportage required for quality science writing, nor of the development of such writers.