Over the past several years I have become increasingly aware of a trend I believe is harmful to our profession: a growing unwillingness by both the print and broadcast media to address or refer to PhD scientists appropriately. I was motivated to write this letter after recently experiencing several particularly blatant examples of the phenomenon.
During a National Public Radio interview, a K-9 police officer was always addressed as “Officer Jones” and his canine partner was frequently referred to as “Officer Fido,” while the next guest, a PhD physicist, was always referred to simply as “Jim” or “Jim Smith”; never as “Dr. Smith” or even as “physicist Jim Smith.” Listeners who called to ask questions also referred to this PhD scientist by his first name, while they addressed the policeman as “Officer Jones.”
A second example occurred during a television interview with a group of astronauts; several held PhD degrees and one had an MD degree. In virtually every case, an astronaut with a PhD was addressed by first name, while the physician astronaut was always addressed as “Dr.”
As a general rule, the media will always refer to a policeman as “officer,” a physician as “doctor,” a soldier as “major,” a cook as “chef,” and even the individual in charge of an athletic team as “coach.” Who can imagine an interviewer addressing General Petraeus as “Dave”?
Last year I was reading a newspaper editorial describing the magnificent work of a PhD scientist who had been awarded a Nobel Prize. Never once was he referred to as “Dr.,” nor was his PhD status even mentioned. When I inquired about the apparent oversight, I was informed that the use of “Dr.” for a PhD scientist violates the Associated Press naming convention. In fact, I was told that editors are taught to look for and remove such “errors.”
Such treatment by the media sends a clear message that scientists who have earned the highest degree in their profession are less worthy of respect than soldiers, coaches, police officers, members of the clergy, and even cooks. It also conveys the message that science is somehow a less worthy endeavor than other professions.
As an educator for more than 40 years, I have spoken to many students about career choices; they are keenly aware of the low level of respect that is afforded scientists. If we want more of our brightest and most talented youth to pursue careers in science, there must be an increase in the esteem with which science and scientists are regarded.
Some simple actions can be taken to improve the situation. Scientists being interviewed by the media should require that they be introduced as “physicist John Jones,” and PhD scientists should require that they be addressed as “Dr.” Scientists who provide narratives for TV programs should require that their degree appear on screen in conjunction with their name. And a dialog should be initiated with the print media to have the Associated Press naming convention changed.
In our society, titles are used as a sign of respect and credibility. As physicists we must demand the same level of respect other professionals receive; to demand less diminishes our science and demeans our profession.
