The Discovery Channel’s annual “Shark Week” has been airing every summer since 1988, making it the longest-running cable television show in history. It draws one of the greatest short-term increases in viewers’ interest in any science or conservation topic in the United States.
Additionally, because it is the largest stage in marine biology, scientists who appear on it have access to millions of viewers. Researchers can boost their careers by attracting attention and funding by being featured in prominent media outlets.
Sadly, “Shark Week” also misses out on an opportunity. It is a major source of nonsense and misinformation about sharks, the scientists who study them, and how people can help save endangered species from extinction, as conservationists and scientists have argued for a long time.