Journalists Archives - CASW Connector

Article

Repetition makes climate misinformation feel more true — even for those who back climate science

"Climate misinformation may be more effective than we’d like to think because of a phenomenon called the illusory truth effect. In short, we are more likely to believe a lie if we encounter it repeatedly. Worse, the effect works immediately — a lie seems to be more true even after just one repetition." This article in Nieman Lab summarizes a recent paper by the same authors (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0307294) in which the researchers put the illusory truth effect to the test among people with strongly held existing beliefs.

Repetition makes climate misinformation feel more true — even for those who back climate science

Summary:

"Climate misinformation may be more effective than we’d like to think because of a phenomenon called the illusory truth effect. In short, we are more likely to believe a lie if we encounter it repeatedly. Worse, the effect works immediately — a lie seems to be more true even after just one repetition." This article in Nieman Lab summarizes a recent paper by the same authors (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0307294) in which the researchers put the illusory truth effect to the test among people with strongly held existing beliefs.

Published By:

NiemanLab

Date:

August 12, 2024

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Article

What journalists need to know when covering extreme weather and climate change

The NPR Climate Desk put together this bulleted list of ready-to-use, sourced (to NPR articles) bullet points about climate change, organized by topic. Many are from the latest National Climate Assessment.

What journalists need to know when covering extreme weather and climate change

Summary:

The NPR Climate Desk put together this bulleted list of ready-to-use, sourced (to NPR articles) bullet points about climate change, organized by topic. Many are from the latest National Climate Assessment.

Published By:

National Public Radio (NPR)

Date:

July 23, 2024

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Journalists

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Awards

AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

"The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism was established by the AACR in 2015 to raise awareness of the critical role that the media play in educating the public about cancer and cancer research." The award is open to "print, broadcast, and online professional journalists whose stories appear in newspapers, magazines, websites, and broadcast platforms that target lay public audiences." Winners receive a cash prize of $5,000 and a commemorative award. For the 2024 award, submissions are due on December 9.

Fellowships & Grants

Journalism Grants – National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM)

NICHM

"NIHCM Foundation supports timely health care journalism that informs efforts to improve the health of Americans and that examines emerging health issues and their implications for cost, quality and access. Grants provide funding for health reporting, educational opportunities for health care reporters and support for documentary films and their public engagement campaigns." Applications for the 2024-2025 funding cycle are due on October 25.

Fellowships & Grants

AHCJ Reporting Fellowships on Health Care Performance

AHCJ

"Through the U.S. Health System Reporting Fellowship, supported by The Commonwealth Fund, you can pursue a significant reporting project related to the U.S. health care system at the local, regional and/or national level. "This fellowship allows mid-career journalists to maintain their regular employment while working on a major project over a 12-month calendar year. You’ll pursue the projects with the support of your newsrooms or arranged outlets, which commit to publish or air the work." "The fellowship covers the cost of attending the seminars and the annual AHCJ conference, as well as a $2,500 project allowance to defray the cost of field reporting, health data analysis and other project-related research. In addition, you will receive a $5,000 fellowship award upon the successful completion of the project." The application deadline for 2024 is October 4, though applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

AHCJ Reporting Fellowships on Health Care Performance

Summary:

"Through the U.S. Health System Reporting Fellowship, supported by The Commonwealth Fund, you can pursue a significant reporting project related to the U.S. health care system at the local, regional and/or national level. "This fellowship allows mid-career journalists to maintain their regular employment while working on a major project over a 12-month calendar year. You’ll pursue the projects with the support of your newsrooms or arranged outlets, which commit to publish or air the work." "The fellowship covers the cost of attending the seminars and the annual AHCJ conference, as well as a $2,500 project allowance to defray the cost of field reporting, health data analysis and other project-related research. In addition, you will receive a $5,000 fellowship award upon the successful completion of the project." The application deadline for 2024 is October 4, though applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Organization:

AHCJ

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Article

Mpox: An explainer and research roundup

"A handful of researchers tried to notify the international community about a brewing problem with mpox, but their reports went mostly unnoticed until an outbreak in the United Kingdom in May 2022." This piece, first published in 2022, was updated in August 2024 given new alerts and emergency declarations from the U.S. CDC, Africa CDC, and World Health Organization.

Article

Routine childhood vaccinations and changing school requirements: A primer and research roundup

"As schools prepare for the fall semester, administrators are checking children’s shot records and working with families to help kids get up to date." This research roundup explains strategies to increase childhood vaccinations and context, as vaccination rates have fallen in recent years with disruptions and mistrust tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fellowships & Grants

Princeton University Press book proposal grants

Princeton University Press

These grants from Princeton University Press support authors from under-represented groups in STEM working on nonfiction books about science topics. Grantees receive coaching from Princeton University Press editors and consideration for publication. Both first-time and previously published authors are eligible. The application deadline for the 2024 grant cycle is October 11.

Princeton University Press book proposal grants

Summary:

These grants from Princeton University Press support authors from under-represented groups in STEM working on nonfiction books about science topics. Grantees receive coaching from Princeton University Press editors and consideration for publication. Both first-time and previously published authors are eligible. The application deadline for the 2024 grant cycle is October 11.

Organization:

Princeton University Press

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For:

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Video

Engaging the public on LGBTQ health: A conversation with journalist Erin Reed

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

In this virtual event presented by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence, journalist and activist Erin Reed spoke to Ivan Hsiao, founder of Trans Health HQ. They discussed "ways to translate and disseminate research about LGBTQ health for policy and public discourse, combat misinformation and disinformation, and support progress toward a more equitable future for the LGBTQ community."

Engaging the public on LGBTQ health: A conversation with journalist Erin Reed

Summary:

In this virtual event presented by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence, journalist and activist Erin Reed spoke to Ivan Hsiao, founder of Trans Health HQ. They discussed "ways to translate and disseminate research about LGBTQ health for policy and public discourse, combat misinformation and disinformation, and support progress toward a more equitable future for the LGBTQ community."

Organization:

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Date:

July 24, 2024

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Article

How investigative journalists can fight back against health misinformation

The panel "Mis- and Disinformation about Health is Killing Us. What Should Journalists Be Doing about It?" presented at the 2024 International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy, explored how certain industries are exploiting a vacuum of trusted health information to misinform and disinform the public about their products and policies. Moderated by Pulitzer Center senior editor Susan Ferriss and featuring Will Fitzgibbon of The Examination; Chrissie Giles, deputy editor of the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism; and Mia Malan, founder and editor-in-chief of the South Africa-based Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism, the panelists "discussed their experiences working on impactful investigations and shared advice for journalists who want to cover health issues but don’t know where to start."

Video

Talking shop: When debunking climate disinformation gets labeled “censorship”

Covering Climate Now

"Increasingly, disinformation peddlers are protecting their lies by accusing anyone who fact-checks or debunks climate disinformation of censorship, bias, or being anti–free speech and debate. How can journalists preempt such charges, or deal with them, as we continue to tackle climate disinformation on the beat? In this press briefing, co-sponsored by Covering Climate Now and Climate Action Against Disinformation, experts detailed strategies used by disinformers to discredit journalists and how you can protect your reporting and serve your audiences. Kendra Pierre-Louis of Bloomberg; Marco Silva of BBC News; and Wudan Yan, freelance journalist, fact-checker, and entrepreneur, joined moderator Amy Westervelt, executive editor of Drilled, for a one-hour conversation."

Talking shop: When debunking climate disinformation gets labeled “censorship”

Summary:

"Increasingly, disinformation peddlers are protecting their lies by accusing anyone who fact-checks or debunks climate disinformation of censorship, bias, or being anti–free speech and debate. How can journalists preempt such charges, or deal with them, as we continue to tackle climate disinformation on the beat? In this press briefing, co-sponsored by Covering Climate Now and Climate Action Against Disinformation, experts detailed strategies used by disinformers to discredit journalists and how you can protect your reporting and serve your audiences. Kendra Pierre-Louis of Bloomberg; Marco Silva of BBC News; and Wudan Yan, freelance journalist, fact-checker, and entrepreneur, joined moderator Amy Westervelt, executive editor of Drilled, for a one-hour conversation."

Organization:

Covering Climate Now

Date:

June 18, 2024

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Resource Database / Guide

A freelancer’s guide to reporting on climate change

"For freelance journalists, reporting on environmental issues and climate change is a chance to cover a diverse range of stories, places, and characters with an opportunity to build data, multimedia, and storytelling skills to better engage audiences... In this guide you will learn to help audiences connect with the subject of climate change; learn how environmental issues overlap with everyday events or trending topics; and learn to connect the dots globally." The guide, published by the European Journalism Centre, is available in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish.

A freelancer’s guide to reporting on climate change

Summary:

"For freelance journalists, reporting on environmental issues and climate change is a chance to cover a diverse range of stories, places, and characters with an opportunity to build data, multimedia, and storytelling skills to better engage audiences... In this guide you will learn to help audiences connect with the subject of climate change; learn how environmental issues overlap with everyday events or trending topics; and learn to connect the dots globally." The guide, published by the European Journalism Centre, is available in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish.

Published By:

European Journalism Centre

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For:

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Newsletter

Climate on the Ballot newsletter

Covering Climate Now

The Climate on the Ballot newsletter, from Covering Climate Now, is delivered every Monday and covers a topic to help journalists integrate climate into their newsroom’s campaign reporting. It is also available in Spanish here: https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us/el-clima-en-la-boleta/

Video

Making obscure animals and ecosystems compelling main characters

SEJ

Pandas and forests are out. Moths and peatlands are in. During this session at the 2024 Society of Environmental Journalists annual meeting, a panel of wildlife writers discussed how to get readers deeply invested in stories about wildlife and ecosystems that are not traditionally charismatic. These could be obscure creatures and places that some readers have never heard of, or animals that many people consider icky pests.

Making obscure animals and ecosystems compelling main characters

Summary:

Pandas and forests are out. Moths and peatlands are in. During this session at the 2024 Society of Environmental Journalists annual meeting, a panel of wildlife writers discussed how to get readers deeply invested in stories about wildlife and ecosystems that are not traditionally charismatic. These could be obscure creatures and places that some readers have never heard of, or animals that many people consider icky pests.

Organization:

SEJ

Date:

April 4, 2024

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For:

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Awards

The Kovler Prize for Trust in Life Science Journalism

Foundation for the National Institutes of Health

In its inaugural year, the Kovler Prize for Trust in Life Science Journalism honors an individual who has significantly increased the public’s awareness and understanding of life science through their distinguished body of work through any media. The prize includes a $25,000 honorarium. The winner will be honored at the FNIH 12th Annual Awards Ceremony on October 29, 2024, in Washington, D.C. 2024 Applications are open Wednesday, July 31, through Friday, August 30, 2024 at 5 p.m. ET.

Article

Covering abortion as a health care story, not just a political one

Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ)

"Nearly two years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, pregnant people continue to have difficulty accessing abortion care across the country. During a panel at HJ24, a group of medical professionals discussed the impact of the reversal, including what they’re seeing on the ground." The panel included insight from doctors and recommendations for journalists.

Video

Media briefing: Reproductive health and abortion

SciLine

"This briefing, part of a series of SciLine media briefings covering key issues in the 2024 election, covered what the latest scientific research says about the latest stats on abortion, including geographic, demographic, and late- versus early-term distribution; the types of abortions that are available remotely and in healthcare settings, including surgical versus medication, and their relative prevalence; physical and mental health effects of getting an abortion or being unable to access a desired abortion; and challenges in data collection and data reliability."

Media briefing: Reproductive health and abortion

Summary:

"This briefing, part of a series of SciLine media briefings covering key issues in the 2024 election, covered what the latest scientific research says about the latest stats on abortion, including geographic, demographic, and late- versus early-term distribution; the types of abortions that are available remotely and in healthcare settings, including surgical versus medication, and their relative prevalence; physical and mental health effects of getting an abortion or being unable to access a desired abortion; and challenges in data collection and data reliability."

Organization:

SciLine

Date:

July 11, 2024

Category:

For:

Journalists

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Article

Trauma-informed journalism: What it is, why it’s important and tips for practicing it

"Experts and journalists who have researched and worked with trauma survivors say that practicing trauma-informed journalism not only leads to better, more accurate stories, but also helps protect survivors from further harm." This explainer and tip sheet is based on a review of several reliable sources on trauma-informed reporting and interviews with Elana Newman of the Dart Center, and Tamara Cherry, founder of Pickup Communications PR agency, both experts who focus on this area.

Article

Why this matters: How to cover health disparities more effectively

A new study from researchers at Cornell University found that how health disparities were framed in news articles had an impact on readers' perceptions of their risks. AHCJ spoke with Jeff Niederdeppe, Ph.D., who led the research, about this work and "what journalists can do to improve their coverage of health disparities while thinking about the impact their language has on readers."

Article

What’s a nationally representative sample? 5 things you need to know to report accurately on research

"Journalists can’t report accurately on research involving human subjects without knowing certain details about the sample of people researchers studied. It’s important to know, for example, whether researchers used a nationally representative sample." This article explains what a nationally representative sample is, why this is important, and how journalists can evaluate such samples when covering research papers.

Resource Database / Guide

Tip sheet: Reporting on hot-button topics as a science writer: Lessons from abortion coverage

CASW Connector, The Journalist's Resource

On July 11, CASW Connector and The Journalist’s Resource hosted a Chat discussing how journalists can better cover hot-button topics, focusing on abortion as an example of a medical topic that has become increasingly political. The panelists shared lessons from their research and reporting, offered guidance for journalists covering abortion, and answered questions from the audience. The event was moderated by Naseem Miller, senior health editor at The Journalist’s Resource, and the panelists were Sarah McCammon, national political correspondent at NPR who covers abortion policy among other divisive topics, and Katie Woodruff, public health social scientist in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services at the University of California, San Francisco.

Tip sheet: Reporting on hot-button topics as a science writer: Lessons from abortion coverage

Summary:

On July 11, CASW Connector and The Journalist’s Resource hosted a Chat discussing how journalists can better cover hot-button topics, focusing on abortion as an example of a medical topic that has become increasingly political. The panelists shared lessons from their research and reporting, offered guidance for journalists covering abortion, and answered questions from the audience. The event was moderated by Naseem Miller, senior health editor at The Journalist’s Resource, and the panelists were Sarah McCammon, national political correspondent at NPR who covers abortion policy among other divisive topics, and Katie Woodruff, public health social scientist in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services at the University of California, San Francisco.

Organization:

CASW Connector, The Journalist's Resource

Date:

July 18, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Conference

UK Conference of Science Journalists 2024

Association of British Science Writers (ABSW)

This biennial conference, organized by the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), provides science journalists and writers with professional development and networking opportunities. The 2024 conference will take place on Tuesday, October 15, at the Francis Crick Institute in London. Early bird tickets are available through the end of July, and ABSW also offers diversity scholarships for writers from underrepresented groups.

Workshop

Living and working on a hot planet: Reporting on climate change and human health

Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW)

"Journalists who cover topics at the intersection of climate change and health are invited to apply to attend this full-day pre-conference workshop in Raleigh, N.C. on November 8, in connection with ScienceWriters2024. The workshop will be presented by the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing. Thanks to a grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, CASW is able to provide up to $1,200 in support for travel and accommodation expenses, along with complimentary ScienceWriters conference registration, to journalists attending the workshop." The deadline to apply is August 16.

Organization

Science Media Centre

"The Science Media Centre is New Zealand’s trusted, independent source of information for the media on all issues related to research, science, and innovation." The organization helps to connect journalists and scientists, offers resources and trainings, provides networking opportunities, recognizes excellent science journalism, and more.

Science Media Centre

Summary:

"The Science Media Centre is New Zealand’s trusted, independent source of information for the media on all issues related to research, science, and innovation." The organization helps to connect journalists and scientists, offers resources and trainings, provides networking opportunities, recognizes excellent science journalism, and more.

Category:

For:

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Fellowships & Grants

Louise Behan Reporting Grants

World Federation of Science Journalists

"If you live in a lower-income country and are passionate about a science story you are pursuing, a Louise Behan Reporting Grant could help you reach your goal. The grants support those in the Global South who are reporting on matters of interest in their country or region." Reporters working in countries defined as lower-income by the World Bank are eligible for these grants. The program makes two or three awards between $750 and $1000 USD annually to support reporting projects. For the 2024 grant cycle, expressions of interest are due on July 15.

Find a resource

Library

Repetition makes climate misinformation feel more true — even for those who back climate science

What journalists need to know when covering extreme weather and climate change

AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism

Journalism Grants – National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM)

AHCJ Reporting Fellowships on Health Care Performance

Mpox: An explainer and research roundup

Routine childhood vaccinations and changing school requirements: A primer and research roundup

Princeton University Press book proposal grants

Engaging the public on LGBTQ health: A conversation with journalist Erin Reed

How investigative journalists can fight back against health misinformation

Talking shop: When debunking climate disinformation gets labeled “censorship”

A freelancer’s guide to reporting on climate change

Making obscure animals and ecosystems compelling main characters

The Kovler Prize for Trust in Life Science Journalism

Covering abortion as a health care story, not just a political one

Media briefing: Reproductive health and abortion

Trauma-informed journalism: What it is, why it’s important and tips for practicing it

Why this matters: How to cover health disparities more effectively

What’s a nationally representative sample? 5 things you need to know to report accurately on research

Tip sheet: Reporting on hot-button topics as a science writer: Lessons from abortion coverage

UK Conference of Science Journalists 2024

Living and working on a hot planet: Reporting on climate change and human health

Science Media Centre

Louise Behan Reporting Grants