This paper discusses aspects of the relationship between the scientific community and the public at large. Inspired by the European public debate on genetically modified crops and food, ethical challenges to the scientific community are highlighted. This is done by a discussion of changes that are likely to occur to journalistic attitudes – mirroring changing attitudes in the wider society – towards science and scientific researchers. Two journalistic conventions – those of science transmission and of investigative journalism – are presented and discussed in relation to the present drive towards commercialization within the world of science: how are journalists from these different schools of thought likely to respond to the trend of commercialization? Likely journalistic reactions could, while maintaining the authority of the scientific method, be expected to undermine public trust in scientists. In the long term, this may lead to an erosion of the idea of knowledge as something that cannot simply be reduced to the outcome of negotiation between stakeholders. It is argued that science is likely to be depicted as a fallen angel. This may be countered, it is posited, by science turning human, by recognizing its membership of society, and by recognizing that such membership entails more than just commercial relations. To rethink its relationship with the public at large – and, in particular, to rethink the ideal of disinterested science – is an ethical challenge facing the scientific community.

中文翻译：

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新闻与科学：如何侵蚀知识观念

本文讨论了科学界与广大公众之间关系的各个方面。受到欧洲关于转基因作物和食品的公开辩论的启发，科学界面临的伦理挑战得到了强调。这是通过讨论新闻态度可能发生的变化来完成的——这反映了更广泛社会对科学和科学研究人员的态度变化。两种新闻惯例——科学传播和调查性新闻——被提出和讨论，与当前科学世界内的商业化驱动有关：来自这些不同思想流派的记者如何应对商业化趋势？可能的新闻反应可以在保持科学方法的权威的同时，预计会破坏公众对科学家的信任。从长远来看，这可能会导致知识观念被侵蚀，因为它不能简单地归结为利益相关者之间谈判的结果。有人认为，科学很可能被描绘成一个堕落的天使。可以通过科学转为人类、承认其社会成员资格以及承认这种成员资格不仅仅需要商业关系来反驳这一点。重新思考它与广大公众的关系——尤其是重新思考无私科学的理想——是科学界面临的伦理挑战。这可能会削弱知识的观念，因为它不能简单地归结为利益相关者之间谈判的结果。有人认为，科学很可能被描绘成一个堕落的天使。可以通过科学转为人类、承认其社会成员资格以及承认这种成员资格不仅仅需要商业关系来反驳这一点。重新思考它与广大公众的关系——尤其是重新思考无私科学的理想——是科学界面临的伦理挑战。这可能会削弱知识的观念，因为它不能简单地归结为利益相关者之间谈判的结果。有人认为，科学很可能被描绘成一个堕落的天使。可以通过科学转为人类、承认其社会成员资格以及承认这种成员资格不仅仅需要商业关系来反驳这一点。重新思考它与广大公众的关系——尤其是重新思考无私科学的理想——是科学界面临的伦理挑战。并认识到这种成员资格不仅仅需要商业关系。重新思考它与广大公众的关系——尤其是重新思考无私科学的理想——是科学界面临的伦理挑战。并认识到这种成员资格不仅仅需要商业关系。重新思考它与广大公众的关系——尤其是重新思考无私科学的理想——是科学界面临的伦理挑战。