SKWJ: "Science journalists are not just mouthpieces for researchers".
The Swiss Club for Science Journalism SKWJ held its General Assembly on June 15 in Bern. For the first time since 1986, a French-speaking Swiss was elected president: Olivier Dessibourg, head of the "Science and Environment" department of the daily newspaper "Le Temps".
On the occasion of the General Assembly held on June 15 at the Federal Office of Metrology METAS in Bern, the Swiss Club for Science Journalism SKWJ renewed its Board of Directors. In addition to the new president Olivier Dessibourg, the other members of the board are Natalie Bougeard (French-speaking secretariat, RTS-La Première/Impatience), Fabio Bergamin (German-speaking secretariat, ETH Life), Pascal Biber (editor Bulletin SKJW, Radio SRF), Christophe Ungar (Internet SKJW, RTS-36.9°C), Beate Kittl (SDA), Hanna Wick (Neue Zürcher Zeitung) and Felix Straumann (Tagesanzeiger).
"Thanks to numerous new members from French-speaking Switzerland since 2009, the SKWJ has become an association with truly national appeal," says a delighted outgoing president Irène Dietschi. "Thanks to this support, we will work even harder to promote high-quality science journalism in the Swiss media," says Olivier Dessibourg. He adds that the club will continue to advocate for science journalism to accompany the scientific enterprise with a healthy skepticism and to preserve its independence. "Science journalists not just mouthpieces for researchers," says Dessibourg. The new president wants to pay particular attention to three aspects during his term: He would like to favor the cooperation of the members from western and German-speaking Switzerland, increase the public perception of the SKWJ, and begin to work with partner associations from Germany and France.
The SKWJ has existed since 1974 and offers its members services such as discussion events on journalistic and scientific issues, excursions, a job exchange and scholarships. With this and its publication organ, website and bilingual newsletter, it aims to promote networking among Swiss science journalists. The SKWJ is also a member of the European Union of Science Journalists' Association EUSJA and now has around 370 members. Of these, two-thirds are regular members who work full-time on science topics either on an editorial staff or as freelance journalists. About 130 associate members work as communications professionals in scientific institutions or companies. In addition, the SKWJ has about twenty patron members from the media, academia and business.
