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Canada and the francophone province of Quebec have invested both financially and symbolically in genomics research since the end of the 1990Â’s. They are thus part of a complex international movement. The scope of genomics and its ethical and social implications surely demand that specialists must not be left alone to chart its course: the wider public must be included in the debate. Clearly, some understanding of science and its benefits and risks, is indispensable for participation in the debate about genomics. This being the case, print journalism is an important source for public discourse, and a study of that medium is revelatory of the manner in which scientific information destined for the wider public is constructed. The study of the contents of the press could thus furnish significant data that would help to promote an open, democratic and responsible dialogue about genomics.
Within the goal of a better understanding of the public discourse about science and its progress, this communication presents the results of a content analysis of close to 750 articles from nine sources of Quebec (francophone) print journalism that appeared between 1992 and 2001. The main results of the reported study indicate 1) that genomics has occupied a considerable space in that press for the past decade. Moreover, 2) the manner of presenting that content has clearly become less reflective and more optimistic. Very few articles assess or offer critiques of genomics. Generally speaking, 3) the development of the concept of genomics seems narrowly focused within an economic rationale related to the promotion of research and biotechnology. These results lead us to raise questions about the role of the media in the presentation of science and on the weight given to ethical issues. In order to clarify this disquieting situation, other case studies should be undertaken at the national and international levels.
Éric Racine Research coordinator for the Bioethics Research Group (University of Montreal); clinical ethics intern; member of research ethics and clinical ethics committees; member of Quebec’s Science, Technology and Ethics Commission. Mr. Racine has published papers on the issue of public consultation in genomics and in the new field of neuroethics. His Ph.D. dissertation is a multi-site qualitative study of clinical ethics committees in Quebec. He will be joining the Neuroethics Imaging Group as a Fellow at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics in July 2004.