The gap between scientists and journalists: the case of mercury science in Québec’s press

This research aimed to better understand the gap between journalists and scientists in the context of the media coverage of an environmental issue in Québec (Canada). Through in-depth interviews with journalists and scientists, we were able to identify different sources of frustration felt by both protagonists, notably the question of the scientists’ revision of the journalists’ text, the journalists’ lack of accuracy, and the problem of different time frames in the media and the scientific worlds. This study also offered insights for bridging the gaps.