2) Summary
Panelists reported on the state of science and technology journalism in each of their countries and spoke on their perceptions regarding the gathering of information on a daily basis, as seen through their experiences. Discussion was then held based on these statements, focusing on what the task of the science and technology journalist is and incorporating comments from the floor. Debate was also held on how to educate and train science and technology journalists to maintain an awareness of potential issues.
Panelist reports underscored that expectations regarding science and technology coverage were rising, as people are now able to make decisions from a number of perspectives and, therefore, demand accurate coverage on science and technology as a source for making such decisions. Consequently, science and technology journalists have "a responsibility to identify accurately their readers' needs and to communicate information with equity and fairness." This is required of all journalists, but it is even more important that science and technology journalists give this point consideration in that science and technology includes news that is particularly difficult for the general public to comprehend.
One of the ways of meeting these needs is to convey science and technology-related news not in technical terms, but in terms that may be readily understood by a large number of people and in an appealing manner. In other words, it was suggested that we need science and technology journalists who have the talent and qualification to communicate science and technology and what academics say in terms that the general public can grasp.
There are various approaches toward identifying the readers' needs. However, one significant point is that journalists must maintain awareness of their readers when covering a story, and then approach the news source with this in mind. During panel discussion, it was pointed out that writing about what you, the journalist, are interested in will lead you to meeting the readers' demands.
Writing an article that can be understood by anyone is the minimum requirement of journalism. However, science and technology journalists must not only meet this requirement, but must also have a sense of ethics and be capable of scientific thought in order to serve as a bridge between the world of science and the general public. In current society, the emphasis has leaned more toward what is fun and interesting, causing reporting to become increasingly entertaining in nature. This tendency appears even more strongly in news related to science and technology, which includes matters ordinary people may find difficult to comprehend. While bringing entertaining aspects of a topic to the forefront is not necessarily something which needs to be eliminated, if overdone, it can cause information to be distorted and inaccurately communicated. During panel discussion, comment was made that science and technology are becoming a means of pursuing wealth and that science and technology journalists are being pressured by the market. Panelist members stressed that journalists need to clarify their own views and perspectives.
In order to overcome this issue, science and technology journalists have the obligation to report accurately and in a timely fashion the significance of science and technology and changes and directions in research and development, without being swayed by the interests or intentional choices of those handling and using science and technology. It was commented that journalists must not be ignorant with regards to science and technology if they are to report in such a manner. Journalists are at risk of being taken for a ride by news sources if they do not stay well-informed. Therefore, constant edification is indispensable. Journalists must maintain an objective view of science and technology, and cultivate the ability to discern erroneous information. Furthermore, journalists must not only possess knowledge of science and technology, but also require acumen more sensitive than that of the scientists.
That we must foster science and technology journalists with a sense of ethics and awareness of their duties as journalists was pointed out by each of the journalists one after another. Despite that importance of science and technology within society has been growing, there has been a dearth in journalists to report this to the public. In regards to this point, U.S. panel representative stated that they already have excellent university programs and European representative claimed that international exchange amongst science and technology journalists is being promoted. In contrast, the Columbian representative commented that the education of the next generation science and technology journalists would become a priority amongst the tasks of today's reporters. Moreover, Japan, which professions to support science and technology, has no programs involved in educating science and technology journalists. This would seem to inhibit development of sound science and technology in the nation.
This turned into a meaningful session, where representatives from each country were able to convey their views and concerns regarding science and technology journalism. In addition, emphasis was given to the importance of accurately identifying developments in science and technology and communicating these developments to the general public. Participants also keenly felt it was essential that science and technology journalists engage in a dialogue and exchange to broaden their fields of vision and improve their judgment.

2) Paul Raeburn
There were 2 mistakes in the whaling novel Moby Dick, written more than 150 years ago. However, these mistakes were not the mistakes of the author, but the scientist he used as his information source. This example illustrates that scientific journalists' knowledge depends on the scientists. We ought to provide scientific information so that it can be understood by the general public, because they need scientific knowledge to be able to make educated decisions. Articles related to science, like regular news-related articles, must be interesting and be understood by anyone, no matter where that article may be, since this news is covered because it is essential to the daily lives of the public. The majority of scientific journalists have the tendency to report science-related manners in a favorable light, because they enjoy science. However, we must not neglect to maintain a critical eye. In the United States, writers can make a living as scientific journalists; however, there is still room for improvement. Scientific journalists should be constantly self-examining and maintain an objective perspective on science. We must eradicate hypocritical or erroneous articles and report the truth, so that the general public gain a perspective regarding science.

3) Istvan Palugyai
Science and technology journalists in Eastern European nations have had to overcome 2 issues: political interests and a lag in science and technology resulting therefrom. Once governments became democratized, support toward the sciences dwindled beyond that from when these countries were communist. Furthermore, pseudo-sciences began to flourish under this newly gained freedom, and we have seen the number of believers in telepathy soar over the past 10 years. It seems that this increase in believers in the pseudo-sciences is a trend occurring worldwide. In western Europe and the United States, the opinion that "science has increased risks (in our daily lives and the environment)" has spread. Conversely, in central and eastern Europe, people state that they still have hopes for science, and at the same time, the demand for science-related news has increased, effecting an increase in scientific columns in the media. In Hungary, there is a tradition of scientific journalism. However, scientific journalist clubs and other groups have been hosting seminars, since a lack of technical university courses and other factors have resulted in the media being currently unable to maintain this tradition. With the increase of high-tech, we are beginning to see new trends where scientific columns are starting to be offered online and advancements in international support.

4) Fujio Nakano
In Japan, we tend to make a distinction between those who are humanities-oriented and those who are science-oriented, and the two are considered mutually exclusive. Thus, the Japanese have the tendency to avoid articles as soon as they see it was written by a "science and technology journalist." Once, I had written a series on laser knives. I exerted my efforts toward putting to words the excitement and emotion gained from the process where the scalpels were first developed, up to their successful use in brain surgery so the readers could understand its significance. During the process of gathering information for this series, I became keenly aware that while there were books specializing in the field, there were no books that explained this field in laymen's terms. I hope to write about science and technology in an interesting and palatable manner, allowing the readers to understand their contents, and, thus, spread scientific and technological knowledge amongst the general public. Perhaps using my writing talents in such a manner is what science and technology journalism means to me.

5) Philippe Gauthier
Our task is not to treat science as an absolute truth or amazing feat of magic, but to pay attention to how science is actually being conducted and to convey what such scientific research actually means to the general public in an easy to understand manner. Scientific journalists must be able to distinguish "good science" from "bad science." First and foremost, there is the bad science that panders to the interests of its sponsor. Second, there is science that was originally legitimate in nature, but which has been manipulated and intentionally selected for use and as justification (excuses) by the government or by lobbyists. Third, there is science that was reported in ignorance as the absolute truth without the journalist having conducted proper research. Furthermore, journalists should maintain close coverage at the area were the news is breaking, while reporting from a global perspective. For the past 2 years, I have maintained a website named "Quebec Science," where I post 2 new articles daily. Because there is significant demand amongst the general public for science-related articles, I, along with my associates with the ACS (abbreviation for the Association des communicateurs scientifiques du Quebec, an association comprising journalists and corporate staff members involved in PR; The corresponding English language association is known as the Canadian Science Writer's Association or CSWA) share the common goal of giving science a position within society, and ensuring that articles written by journalists specializing in science make it to daily periodicals as well as to cover matters concerning technology.

6) Discussion
Masanori Fukushima: Floor Commentator (Representing the scientists' perspective)
I would like to speak on the current state of science and technology journalists. First, from the perspective of education and development of science and technology journalists, I have strong reservations in that there are no specialized courses at Japanese universities. While I feel that scientists do have accountability, I would like for us to demand that journalists be knowledgeable as well. Second, from the perspective of mission and responsibility, science and technology is at present directly linked to business, causing findings announced at scientific society meetings to be limited to those related to patent applications, making the names of these scientific societies seem very hollow indeed. There are signs of the danger that science may be reduced to the mere pursuit of wealth. In the future, science and technology journalists will end up having to participate more aggressively against abuses of sciences, such as its use in terrorism or towards other such unethical ends.

On Scientific Articles That Are Easy to Understand
Journalist-side: We would like to place emphasis not on writing for journals of the trade but for the general public.
Paul Raeburn: I have been trying to omit information that is overly technical, including instead the sufficient and necessary amounts of the core information.
Masanori Fukushima: I feel that journalists are merely the conveyors of information. Journalists should themselves be capable of scientific thought and investigate into delusions held by scientists, the relationship between research and corporations, and plagiarism, and therefore must possess broader-based knowledge than the scientists as well as maintain an international perspective. However, I find it impossible to fathom how Japan, a country that professes to support science and technology, could possibly not have courses to educate and develop specializing journalists. As such, Japan will not be able to compete on an international level. Japan must also foster journalists who have the skills to incorporate scientific thought into their writings.
Fujio Nakano: While it is important to write in a manner that is easy to understand, journalists must also be able to judge the contents and significance of scientific research or technology.

(3)On Responding to Needs
Paul Raeburn: I don't select, cover, and write about topics of the day, because I want to avoid being influenced by the times. I believe that since now people can access information over the Internet as well, whether a journal is worth reading is up to the writers.
Philippe Gauthier: Since I have been contributing articles to my website, I have been able to gain insight onto how popular a given topic is in real time. However, I have intentionally posted articles which I felt were important, albeit unpopular. It is also possible to educate the readers by combining significant, yet unpopular topics with those that are popular.
Lisbeth Fog: I have not conducted a survey on the readers' needs. Because the Columbian populace comprises a number of different ethnic groups, we cannot make assumptions regarding the "typical reader." Journalists have two responsibilities. The first is to make direct contact with the information source as much as possible. The second is to convey intelligently convey the contents of what has been learned to the audience. I often tell my students "Try to make direct contact with the news source and to communicate the knowledge you have learned in terms that a 14-year old or grandmother might understand. Once you have first gained an understanding of the information, then you may go ahead and write." Professional journalists need some form of sense regarding the topic, and scientific journalism is a diverse field.
Istvan Palugyai: I agree with Ms. Fog.
Fujio Nakano: I feel that pursuing fields of one's personal interest will ultimately lead the journalist to meeting the readers' needs.
Masanori Fukusjima: At present, non-fiction is more shocking than fiction. Articles by science and technology journalists are trite and stale. It would seem to me that they aren't read, not only because they are abstruse, but also because they are uninteresting. I would like to see journalists show their skills as writers more toward how accurately they can process their news material, than toward producing articles that are readily understood and interesting. Scientific journalists need scientific journalism theory now more than ever, and continuous reporting verification of information is needed.