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Library

Topic: Early-career journalists
Fellowships & Grants

Sharon Begley Science Reporting Fellowship

STAT News, KSJ at MIT

"STAT, the leading health and science news publication, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are accepting applications for the Sharon Begley Science Reporting Fellowship, which has the goal of diversifying the ranks of science and health journalists and fostering better coverage of science that is relevant to all people. It combines a paid reporting position at STAT with an educational component through MIT’s prestigious Knight Science Journalism (KSJ) program. The one-year fellowship is intended for early-career U.S. journalists from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in the profession and will prepare them for a successful career in science journalism." The deadline for the 2024-25 fellowship is April 26.
Newsletter

The Seedling

Uproot Project

"The Uproot Project produces a biweekly newsletter called The Seedling, which is dedicated to keeping members up to date on all things Uproot. In each issue of The Seedling, one of our members writes to our subscribers about an impactful topic or story that is relevant for the Uproot community. Past issues have touched on topics ranging from extreme heat, to climate fiction, to Bad Bunny lyrics. We also use the newsletter to share job opportunities, fellowships and grants, upcoming Uproot events, and amplifying the work of our members."
Fellowships & Grants

IJNR field reporting grants

Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources (IJNR)

"Annually, IJNR invites proposals for grants to help defray the costs of reporting projects that focus on natural resources, the environment, energy, development, agriculture, environmental justice, and public health." Grant opportunities for 2024 are focused on wildlife, conservation, public health impacts, Indigenous reporting, and environmental justice. Reporting projects must be based in or directly related to North America. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2024.
Workshop

2024 Annual Science Immersion Workshop for Journalists

Metcalf Institue, University of Rhode Island

"Metcalf Institute’s Annual Science Immersion Workshop for Journalists is for full-time journalists working in any medium who want learn more about research and topics relating to climate change science, impacts, adaptation, and justice. It’s designed to bolster your understanding of the methods, norms, and culture of science, with hands-on activities, field trips, and opportunities to develop relationships with scientific experts and with your other fellows! We welcome journalists of all beats, such as arts & culture, business, technology, policy, and politics, as climate change shapes all of these fields with ever-increasing urgency." The 2024 workshop will have a special focus on water issues and climate change. It will take place in person at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI. on June 3-8, and applications are due by February 12, 2024.
Video

SciCommers Mentor Chat Series

Boston University

SciCommers is a free network for scientists and engineers to improve their science communication skills and connect with science writing opportunities, hosted by Boston University. In the network's monthly Mentor Chats, communication experts video-chat with SciCommers about topics including how to start a podcast, science outreach, freelance science writing, and more. Past Mentor Chats are posted on the SciCommers YouTube channel.
Fellowships & Grants

Environmental and Epistemic Justice 2024 Summer Institute Fellowship

Wake Forest University

"The Wake Forest University Environmental and Epistemic Justice Initiative is a multi-pronged Mellon Foundation-funded research, teaching, and community engagement project. The 2024 Summer Institute will welcome 4-6 early to mid-career journalists to the second class of EEJI fellows with the goal of improving coverage of the many environmental justice issues, while aiding in diversifying the ranks of environmental journalism." Journalists with at least one year of reporting and feature writing experience are eligible to apply. Fellows will receive $2,500 reporting stipends and covered expenses to attend the Summer Institute at Wake Forest University. The application deadline is March 8.
Article

How to pitch to a science editor

"Successfully pitching a story to a science editor requires a wide range of skills, from researching their outlet to communicating with them in a professional way. In this practical guide, we have compiled advice from six different science editors with extensive experience in commissioning pieces for a number of different outlets including Science, BBC Focus Magazine, New Scientist, the Mail and Guardian and SciDev.Net. Following the advice in this guide will increase the chances of getting your story accepted by an editor."
Article

Pitching errors: How not to pitch

"Writing a good pitch is really tough. Writing a bad one is easy. Editors see the same mistakes over and over again, even from good writers." Seven editors from a variety of publications had a roundtable, email discussion about how not to pitch. This resulting article is full of do's and don't and practical advice for what not to do when pitching a story.
Video

International opportunities for Latin American science journalists

RedMPC

In this webinar, a session from the Symposium to Advance Science Communication and Journalism in Chile (SAPeCCT) 2023, a panel of editors at science publications discussed freelance opportunities for writers in Latin America. The panel included Debbie Ponchner, Knowable en español; David Malakoff, Science; Rachel Courtland, MIT Technology Review; Lynne Walker, Stories Without Borders; Lauren Wolf, Nature; and Siri Carpenter, The Open Notebook.
Article

Ask TON: How much time should I spend preparing a pitch?

Writers and editors at The Open Notebook respond to a question from a reader: "What is a normal amount of time to spend on preparing pitches for magazine feature stories? I’ve heard people say they spend as little as an hour, and others say they conduct multiple interviews before pitching—and I assume they then spend a good deal of time writing the pitch itself. What’s usually the best approach, practically speaking?”
Article

How to successfully pitch The New York Times (or, well, anyone else)

In this article, Tim Herrera (who was, at the time, Smarter Living editor at the New York Times) explains some common do's and don't's of pitching freelance journalism articles. He writes: "After consulting with about a dozen editors who commission stories at publications ranging from small, niche blogs to national magazines and newspapers, I’ve pulled together the six most common mistakes freelancers make when pitching — and what you can do to impress an editor."
Mentor program

ScienceWrite, a U.K.-based mentoring program

"The ScienceWrite Programme, supported by the Royal Society, aims to help early-stage science writers from minoritized backgrounds - based in the UK - to advance their professional development." The program includes an in-person event and four virtual sessions, in which attendees hear from science writers in different professions and receive feedback on their work. Applications for the 2024 cohort close on December 18, 2023. Aspiring and early-career science writing folks from minoritized groups are encouraged to apply.
Fellowships & Grants

Health Journalism Fellowship

Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS)

"With generous support from The Commonwealth Fund, the Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS) is pleased to offer a unique opportunity to early career women journalists and journalists new to the health beat, who have an interest in and passion for upping their health care reporting skills." The fellowship will "train and support" eight journalists who are early-career or new to the health beat as they complete intensive projects. Potential topics include health equity, cost and quality of care, women's health, delivery system reform, and Medicare/Medicaid. The 2024 application deadline is December 22, 2023.
Academic program

U.S. degree programs in science, health, or environmental writing

The Open Notebook

The Open Notebook has compiled a list of "more than 50 U.S. university-based programs that offer specialized undergraduate or graduate degree programs and/or individual courses (which may be available to undergraduates, graduate students, or both) in science, health, or environmental writing." Some of these programs also appear as independent entries in Connector's library.
Community

The Uproot Project

The Uproot Project is a network of and for environmental journalists of color. It has a national membership composed of journalists from across national and regional media institutions. The Uproot Project is open to journalists of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds, but its goal is to uplift and support journalists of color who have been underrepresented in the journalism industry for far too long. The group is currently funded by and assisted operationally by Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. The website includes a publicly available journalist database for people seeking to connect with editors, mentors, experts, sources, and other journalists of color within the environmental space.
Resource Database / Guide

Sci Comm Resources — Dan Vahaba

Dan Vahaba is the director of communications at the Duke University Institute for Brain Sciences. He compiled this Google doc full of science writing resources, including articles and books to read, tips about how to pitch, conferences, academic journals, newsletters, and more.
Fellowships & Grants

Erice Science Communication and Journalism International School

Erie International School of Science Communication

"The Erice International School of Science Communication and Journalism is a summer school of the Italian Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) held yearly at the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Center for Scientific Culture in the village of Erice, in Sicily. The school is organized by INFN in collaboration with Nature Italy, the digital magazine on Italian research and science policy published by Nature Portofolio, and provides 20 scholarships for young science journalists and communicators." The deadline to apply for this fellowship typically occurs in the summer, with the program itself occurring in early fall. In 2023, the program's theme is: "The Big Data Society: What quantum, supercomputing, and AI can and cannot do for science."
Resource Database / Guide

Being a Science Journalist

Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT

"So you want to be a science journalist? People arrive at science journalism from all manner of professional backgrounds. Whether you’re a scientist ready for a career change, a journalist interested in specializing in a science-related beat, a student, or a recent graduate, this curated list of resources can help you get started on your journey." Resources include: Breaking In, Learning the Craft, Societies and Conferences, Academic Programs, Internships and Fellowships, Freelancing.
Resource Database / Guide

Data Journalism Tools

Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT

"The ability to craft a story using raw data — which can be messy and difficult to parse — is a skill worth honing, especially for journalists who cover science. To help you get going, KSJ has provided a collection of resources and tools for finding, analyzing, and presenting data." Resource categories: Data Journalism 101, Training and Tutorials, Conferences, Databases, Data Journalism Toolkit, Further Reading.
Fellowships & Grants

Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship

Poynter Institute

"The Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship is a power-packed, year-long experience that gives early career journalists the coaching, network and skills they need to have a long and lasting career in journalism." Journalists can apply with an existing newsroom (if it participates in the program) or receive placement for a year of full-time work. Part of a fellow's salary is covered by the fellowship, and they also receive training and mentorship opportunities. Application deadlines typically occur in the summer, with the fellowship running from August to May of the next year (eg. August 2023 to May 2024).
Resource Database / Guide

SciCommers Community Resources

Boston University

This spreadsheet shares resources and programs from the SciCommers community, a network of undergrads, graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and industry researchers who are interested in improving their science communication skills. In the database, you can find: links to interviews with expert science writers, a guide to pitching stories, a list of science writing articles, stories by SciCommers, and more.
Resource Database / Guide

The ultimate science writing resource guide

This Medium post by science journalist Shel Evergreen covers the basics of what science writing is, and shares a variety of resources for getting started. The post covers: science writing basics, educational resources, careers, and freelancing. "But I could never find a single source that concisely summed up where to go for questions, resources, jobs, and more," Evergreen writes. "So, I hope this will serve as a useful tool for emerging science writers and seasoned professionals alike."
Resource Database / Guide

Know your research: Helping journalists understand academic research

This section from The Journalist's Resource features articles and tipsheets about reporting on scientific research. Topics covered include understanding research methods, finding and recognizing high-quality research, avoiding missteps when reporting on new studies, and more. New articles are added to the section every few weeks.
Article

How to become a science journalist? A practical guide on science journalism basics in Arabic

This guide, written by science journalism and communication trainer Mohamed Elsonbaty Ramadan, explains science journalism basics for Arabic-langauge speakers. (The resource is written in Arabic.)
Workshop

Science essentials for local reporters

SciLine, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

This free, one-hour “crash course” — designed specifically for local and general assignment reporters — teaches basic principles about how science works and ways it can be used to strengthen virtually any news story. Former longtime Washington Post science reporter Rick Weiss and Ph.D. neuroscientist Tori Espensen cover do’s, don’ts, and pitfalls to watch for when including science in your news reporting. This course is offered periodically throughout the year; check the link for the next offering.