Popular Science Journalism: Quality Criteria, Creative Techniques

Based on the analysis of publications in the Russian versions of National Geographic, Geo, Science Focus, and Scientific American, the main criteria for high-quality popular science publications are described. This selection of the material is explained by typological differences between the journals. The first two are science magazines: they address reality in all its diversity, proceed from the principles of scientific knowledge and rely on scientific results as reliable and adequate to the tasks of the objective description and explanation of the world. The last two are classified as popular science magazines since their subject is science itself, and the goal is to popularize science for the non-specialist reader. The repertoire of creative techniques and methods of the authors - popularizers of science - is generalized based on the classical principles identified by E. A. Lazarevich, one of the first Russian researchers of popular science journalism. The principles are: an entertaining and intelligible presentation (the communicative aspect), and scientific depth and comprehension of the material (the cognitive aspect). Entertaining presentation is achieved via the “convenient entrance” into the material for the reader, the problem-based orientation of the text, the introduction of “human” details, elements of narrative style, rich illustration, etc. Intelligibility is achieved via a special tempo of presentation, which involves alternation of “difficult” and “simple” information, a clear logic of the text, explanation of special terms and concepts, use of stylistic devices, as well as the dialogic nature of the text, its orientation towards the reader. Scientific depth is provided by introducing the research context, including polemical one (scientific discussions), to the presentation logic; citing of authoritative expert opinions; explaining the significance and prospects of scientific research; and recreating the difficulties that arise on the scientists' way. The high professional qualification of the authors contributes to the comprehension of the material.

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