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Topic: Best practices
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Video

Advancing High-Quality Science Journalism: Challenges and Pathways Forward

National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine

"This [National Academies] webinar examined the challenges of reporting on science in today's landscape and surfaced the needs and opportunities for strengthening science, health, and medical journalism. The archived video and resources from the panelists are now available online."
Video

Advancing High-Quality Science Journalism: Challenges and Pathways Forward

Summary:
"This [National Academies] webinar examined the challenges of reporting on science in today's landscape and surfaced the needs and opportunities for strengthening science, health, and medical journalism. The archived video and resources from the panelists are now available online."
Organization:

National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine

Date:

November 13, 2025

Category:
For:
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Video

How To Communicate Scientific Significance and Quality In Your Publications

European Geosciences Union

"Terms like scientific quality and significance are widely used by journals to evaluate submitted papers, but what do they really mean? In this webinar our guest speaker, Ken Carslaw, co-Chief Executive Editor of the EGU journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, will outline how journals interpret these terms. By the end of the webinar you will have a comprehension of which indicators-of-quality journals are looking for and how you can improve on them to level up your writing."
Video

How To Communicate Scientific Significance and Quality In Your Publications

Summary:
"Terms like scientific quality and significance are widely used by journals to evaluate submitted papers, but what do they really mean? In this webinar our guest speaker, Ken Carslaw, co-Chief Executive Editor of the EGU journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, will outline how journals interpret these terms. By the end of the webinar you will have a comprehension of which indicators-of-quality journals are looking for and how you can improve on them to level up your writing."
Organization:

European Geosciences Union

Date:

November 11, 2025

Category:
For:
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Article

How To Spot Predatory Journals: 4 Tips and 2 Checklists

"It’s important for journalists to be aware of predatory journals because such journals pose a threat to the integrity of science journalism." See also: "Study Sheds Light on Journalists’ Knowledge of Predatory Journals."
Article

How To Spot Predatory Journals: 4 Tips and 2 Checklists

Summary:
"It’s important for journalists to be aware of predatory journals because such journals pose a threat to the integrity of science journalism." See also: "Study Sheds Light on Journalists’ Knowledge of Predatory Journals."
Author:

Naseem S. Miller

Published By:

The Journalist’s Resource

Date:

September 30, 2025

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Article

Into the Wild: Reporting on Human-Wildlife Interactions

"Wildlife stories are among the most captivating science journalism has to offer. Images of safari vehicles interrupting cheetahs’ kills or whales overturning boats go viral. But these photos don’t tell the whole story. Media sometimes portray such encounters as freak accidents or one-off spectacles—as if human encroachment had nothing to do with them. Too often, journalists overlook the context surrounding these interactions in their reporting."
Article

Into the Wild: Reporting on Human-Wildlife Interactions

Summary:
"Wildlife stories are among the most captivating science journalism has to offer. Images of safari vehicles interrupting cheetahs’ kills or whales overturning boats go viral. But these photos don’t tell the whole story. Media sometimes portray such encounters as freak accidents or one-off spectacles—as if human encroachment had nothing to do with them. Too often, journalists overlook the context surrounding these interactions in their reporting."
Author:

Jacob Kushner

Published By:

The Open Notebook

Date:

December 5, 2023

Category:
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Article

How To Read a Scientific Paper

"Here’s how to decode any research paper. These tips and tricks will work whether you’re covering developmental biology or deep-space exploration. The key is to familiarize yourself with the framework in which scientists describe their discoveries, and to not let yourself get bogged down in detail as you’re trying to understand the overarching point of it all."
Article

How To Read a Scientific Paper

Summary:
"Here’s how to decode any research paper. These tips and tricks will work whether you’re covering developmental biology or deep-space exploration. The key is to familiarize yourself with the framework in which scientists describe their discoveries, and to not let yourself get bogged down in detail as you’re trying to understand the overarching point of it all."
Author:

Alexandra Witze

Published By:

The Open Notebook

Date:

November 6, 2018

Category:
For:
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Article

Reporting on Psychedelics Research or Legislation? Proceed With Caution

"Despite the hype, optimism and legislation involving the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, researchers warn that there's much we don't know. This research roundup looks at some of the knowns and unknowns of psilocybin, MDMA and other hallucinogens."
Article

Reporting on Psychedelics Research or Legislation? Proceed With Caution

Summary:
"Despite the hype, optimism and legislation involving the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, researchers warn that there's much we don't know. This research roundup looks at some of the knowns and unknowns of psilocybin, MDMA and other hallucinogens."
Author:

Naseem S. Miller

Published By:

The Journalist's Resource

Date:

February 27, 2024

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Article

Q&A on the 2025-2026 COVID-19 Vaccines

"Amid confusion over this year’s updated COVID-19 vaccines, we [FactCheck.org] explain what’s different this year and who experts say should get vaccinated."
Article

Q&A on the 2025-2026 COVID-19 Vaccines

Summary:
"Amid confusion over this year’s updated COVID-19 vaccines, we [FactCheck.org] explain what’s different this year and who experts say should get vaccinated."
Author:

Kate Yandell

Published By:

FactCheck.org

Date:

October 10, 2025

Category:
For:
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Podcast

How To Cover Science Under Trump

Undark

"In this episode [of the Entanglements podcast], hosts Brooke Borel and Anna Rothschild talk to Tom Zeller Jr., Undark’s editor-in-chief, about covering science under the Trump administration."
Podcast

How To Cover Science Under Trump

Summary:
"In this episode [of the Entanglements podcast], hosts Brooke Borel and Anna Rothschild talk to Tom Zeller Jr., Undark’s editor-in-chief, about covering science under the Trump administration."
Organization:

Undark

Date:

October 8, 2025

Category:
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Article

When Prestige Trumps Quality in Science Reporting

"In an era where misinformation spreads rapidly and scientific credibility is under constant scrutiny, the choices science journalists make about which studies to cover matter more than ever. Journal reputation, impact factors and perceived prestige often shape these decisions – but at what cost to diversity, accuracy and public trust in science? To explore how reporters navigate these reputation-driven cues, Technology Networks spoke with Alice Fleerackers, PhD, assistant professor of journalism and civic engagement in the Department of Media Studies at the University of Amsterdam, whose work examines how journalists assess the trustworthiness of scientific journals. Fleerackers sheds light on the hidden dynamics behind science reporting, the risks of over-relying on prestige and how critical research literacy could reshape the future of science communication."
Article

When Prestige Trumps Quality in Science Reporting

Summary:
"In an era where misinformation spreads rapidly and scientific credibility is under constant scrutiny, the choices science journalists make about which studies to cover matter more than ever. Journal reputation, impact factors and perceived prestige often shape these decisions – but at what cost to diversity, accuracy and public trust in science? To explore how reporters navigate these reputation-driven cues, Technology Networks spoke with Alice Fleerackers, PhD, assistant professor of journalism and civic engagement in the Department of Media Studies at the University of Amsterdam, whose work examines how journalists assess the trustworthiness of scientific journals. Fleerackers sheds light on the hidden dynamics behind science reporting, the risks of over-relying on prestige and how critical research literacy could reshape the future of science communication."
Author:

Isabel Ely

Published By:

Technology Networks

Date:

September 12, 2025

Category:
For:
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Article

“I’d Like To Think I’d Be Able To Spot One”: How Journalists Navigate Predatory Journals

"Predatory journals—or journals that prioritize profits over editorial and publication best practices—are becoming more common, raising concerns about the integrity of the scholarly record. Such journals also pose a threat for the integrity of science journalism, as journalists may unwillingly report on low-quality or even highly flawed studies published in these venues. This study sheds light on how journalists navigate this challenging publishing landscape through a qualitative analysis of interviews with 23 health, science, and environmental journalists from Europe and North America about their perceptions of predatory journals and strategies for ensuring the journals they report on are trustworthy. We find that journalists have relatively limited awareness and/or concern about predatory journals. Much of this attitude is due to confidence in their established practices for avoiding problematic research, which largely centre on perceptions of journal prestige, reputation, and familiarity, as well as writing quality and professionalism. Most express limited awareness of how their trust heuristics may discourage them from reporting on smaller, newer, and open access journals, especially those based in the Global South. We discuss implications for the accuracy and diversity of the science news that reaches the public."
Article

“I’d Like To Think I’d Be Able To Spot One”: How Journalists Navigate Predatory Journals

Summary:
"Predatory journals—or journals that prioritize profits over editorial and publication best practices—are becoming more common, raising concerns about the integrity of the scholarly record. Such journals also pose a threat for the integrity of science journalism, as journalists may unwillingly report on low-quality or even highly flawed studies published in these venues. This study sheds light on how journalists navigate this challenging publishing landscape through a qualitative analysis of interviews with 23 health, science, and environmental journalists from Europe and North America about their perceptions of predatory journals and strategies for ensuring the journals they report on are trustworthy. We find that journalists have relatively limited awareness and/or concern about predatory journals. Much of this attitude is due to confidence in their established practices for avoiding problematic research, which largely centre on perceptions of journal prestige, reputation, and familiarity, as well as writing quality and professionalism. Most express limited awareness of how their trust heuristics may discourage them from reporting on smaller, newer, and open access journals, especially those based in the Global South. We discuss implications for the accuracy and diversity of the science news that reaches the public."
Author:

Alice Fleerackers, Laura L. Moorhead and Juan Pablo Alperin

Published By:

Journalism Practice

Date:

September 2, 2025

Category:
For:
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Article

How To Cover the Ongoing Confusion Over COVID Vaccines

"The confusion around COVID vaccine recommendations and access in the fall of 2025 is reminiscent of the first months of 2021 when the vaccines first became available. Back then, most access barriers arose from logistical and supply-chain issues. Now, barriers have been created by HHS policy (or lack thereof) and a patchwork of laws in different states and jurisdictions that have created confusion about how people can legally access the vaccines. The confusion in 2021 felt familiar, relatively speaking, for journalists who have covered any vaccine rollout, which usually involves some hiccups and uncertainty. The new quagmire of COVID vaccine access is more challenging to cover because it’s a moving target, with circumstances changing by the day. Even the people who are supposed to know what’s going on — pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, physicians, and public health experts — aren’t sure what will happen next. All this uncertainty makes the role of journalists more crucial than ever in helping audiences decide whether they should get the new COVID vaccine and helping them understand the barriers they might encounter, why those barriers exist, and how, if possible, they can navigate them. These tips can help journalists deliver the information their audiences need now."  
Article

How To Cover the Ongoing Confusion Over COVID Vaccines

Summary:
"The confusion around COVID vaccine recommendations and access in the fall of 2025 is reminiscent of the first months of 2021 when the vaccines first became available. Back then, most access barriers arose from logistical and supply-chain issues. Now, barriers have been created by HHS policy (or lack thereof) and a patchwork of laws in different states and jurisdictions that have created confusion about how people can legally access the vaccines. The confusion in 2021 felt familiar, relatively speaking, for journalists who have covered any vaccine rollout, which usually involves some hiccups and uncertainty. The new quagmire of COVID vaccine access is more challenging to cover because it’s a moving target, with circumstances changing by the day. Even the people who are supposed to know what’s going on — pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, physicians, and public health experts — aren’t sure what will happen next. All this uncertainty makes the role of journalists more crucial than ever in helping audiences decide whether they should get the new COVID vaccine and helping them understand the barriers they might encounter, why those barriers exist, and how, if possible, they can navigate them. These tips can help journalists deliver the information their audiences need now."  
Author:

Tara Haelle

Published By:

Association of Health Care Journalists

Date:

September 10, 2025

Category:
For:
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Article

How To Cover Environmental Exposure Studies

"Journalists play a big role in which risks get amplified versus downplayed, for better or worse. We are best poised to help the public determine what they should and shouldn’t freak out about. ... This tip sheet discusses best practices specifically for writing about environmental exposure studies."
Article

How To Cover Environmental Exposure Studies

Summary:
"Journalists play a big role in which risks get amplified versus downplayed, for better or worse. We are best poised to help the public determine what they should and shouldn’t freak out about. ... This tip sheet discusses best practices specifically for writing about environmental exposure studies."
Author:

Tara Haelle

Published By:

Association of Health Care Journalists

Date:

November 1, 2024

Category:
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Article

Where Science Journalism and Communication Converge, and What It Means for Trust

"Stagnant freelance rates have pushed some established journalists toward better-paying communication roles. Meanwhile, a new generation of creators often blends both disciplines from the outset in a media landscape with fewer specialized jobs. This convergence raises questions about journalistic independence, ethical boundaries, and how audiences can distinguish between impartial reporting and paid messaging — especially as social media platforms become primary sources of information."
Article

Where Science Journalism and Communication Converge, and What It Means for Trust

Summary:
"Stagnant freelance rates have pushed some established journalists toward better-paying communication roles. Meanwhile, a new generation of creators often blends both disciplines from the outset in a media landscape with fewer specialized jobs. This convergence raises questions about journalistic independence, ethical boundaries, and how audiences can distinguish between impartial reporting and paid messaging — especially as social media platforms become primary sources of information."
Author:

Manuela Callari

Published By:

IJNet

Date:

July 7, 2025

Category:
For:
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Article

Storytelling for Scientists: When You Need It and What To Do

This article delves into "the general properties of science storytelling, its limitations and downsides, and then a little about specific tactics for creating different types of science content – from posters to presentations." Although, "a scientific article does not necessarily have to be a story. Its main purpose is different. Storytelling is just a tool, and it should be used wisely. You don’t have to try to make storytelling out of every article!"
Article

Storytelling for Scientists: When You Need It and What To Do

Summary:
This article delves into "the general properties of science storytelling, its limitations and downsides, and then a little about specific tactics for creating different types of science content – from posters to presentations." Although, "a scientific article does not necessarily have to be a story. Its main purpose is different. Storytelling is just a tool, and it should be used wisely. You don’t have to try to make storytelling out of every article!"
Author:

Zoe Chernova

Published By:

Research Hive

Date:

April 7, 2025

Category:
For:
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Video

BioScience Talks: Science Storytelling, With Kristy Ferraro and Adam Meyer

American Institute of Biological Sciences

"For this episode of BioScience Talks, we were joined by Dr. Kristy Ferraro, who is a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, and Adam Meyer, a PhD candidate in the Ecosystem Ecology Lab, also at Memorial University. They were here to talk about their recent article in BioScience, 'Beyond hero and villain narratives in ecology and conservation science' (https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaf085), in which they discuss storytelling and narratives in science writing—and explain which approaches work best."
Video

BioScience Talks: Science Storytelling, With Kristy Ferraro and Adam Meyer

Summary:
"For this episode of BioScience Talks, we were joined by Dr. Kristy Ferraro, who is a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, and Adam Meyer, a PhD candidate in the Ecosystem Ecology Lab, also at Memorial University. They were here to talk about their recent article in BioScience, 'Beyond hero and villain narratives in ecology and conservation science' (https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaf085), in which they discuss storytelling and narratives in science writing—and explain which approaches work best."
Organization:

American Institute of Biological Sciences

Date:

July 16, 2025

Category:
For:
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Article

Eight Tips From Environmental Reporters in Covering Climate Crisis

"Eight environmental reporters across the U.S. described how they cover the climate crisis in these days where the media space is overloaded with unverified information and social distrust is growing. Some of these journalists have been working on the beat for just a few years, others for 25 years. The reporters gave advice for those who have just entered or may be thinking of entering into this growing field of climate journalism."
Article

Eight Tips From Environmental Reporters in Covering Climate Crisis

Summary:
"Eight environmental reporters across the U.S. described how they cover the climate crisis in these days where the media space is overloaded with unverified information and social distrust is growing. Some of these journalists have been working on the beat for just a few years, others for 25 years. The reporters gave advice for those who have just entered or may be thinking of entering into this growing field of climate journalism."
Author:

Nikita Ponomarenko

Published By:

Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute

Date:

July 7, 2025

Category:
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Article

Science Writing and Story Structures

Erika Hayasaki writes from the 2024 National Association of Science Writers conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, offering resources and books from one of the panel discussions, plus "seven story structures that can be useful for thinking about longform pieces, as well as links to a few examples of each style."

Article

Science Writing and Story Structures

Summary:

Erika Hayasaki writes from the 2024 National Association of Science Writers conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, offering resources and books from one of the panel discussions, plus "seven story structures that can be useful for thinking about longform pieces, as well as links to a few examples of each style."

Author:

Erika Hayasaki

Date:

November 10, 2024

Category:
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Article

Risk Journalism: A Guide to Clear Reporting on Any Topic

"This guide is designed for journalists who cover stories about risks in any sector: health, environment, artificial intelligence etc. You will identify the concepts that will help you explain, for example, why false flood alarms occur, the pros and cons of installing a nuclear plant in a certain area, or the uncertainty of a study that finds a particular diet increases the risk of developing cancer."

Article

Risk Journalism: A Guide to Clear Reporting on Any Topic

Summary:

"This guide is designed for journalists who cover stories about risks in any sector: health, environment, artificial intelligence etc. You will identify the concepts that will help you explain, for example, why false flood alarms occur, the pros and cons of installing a nuclear plant in a certain area, or the uncertainty of a study that finds a particular diet increases the risk of developing cancer."

Date:

October 21, 2024

Category:
For:
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Article

Covering Health Misinformation: What Journalists Need to Rethink

"Journalists and public health experts shared 12 strategies for building trust, using careful language and improving coverage of health misinformation during a workshop at the Association of Health Care Journalists' annual conference."
Article

Covering Health Misinformation: What Journalists Need to Rethink

Summary:
"Journalists and public health experts shared 12 strategies for building trust, using careful language and improving coverage of health misinformation during a workshop at the Association of Health Care Journalists' annual conference."
Author:

Naseem S. Miller

Published By:

The Journalist’s Resource

Date:

June 17, 2025

Category:
For:
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Academic program

Science Writing I: Online Class at UCLA Extension

"Learn what it takes to translate scientific concepts and discoveries into prose that readers can understand and enjoy." Amber Dance, an award-winning freelance science writer based in Southern California, teaches an introduction to science writing at UCLA Extension — live, online, evenings PT. Next class: January 13 - March 17, 2026. Email for information on future dates.
Academic program

Science Writing I: Online Class at UCLA Extension

Summary:
"Learn what it takes to translate scientific concepts and discoveries into prose that readers can understand and enjoy." Amber Dance, an award-winning freelance science writer based in Southern California, teaches an introduction to science writing at UCLA Extension — live, online, evenings PT. Next class: January 13 - March 17, 2026. Email for information on future dates.
Category:
For:
VISIT
Resource Database / Guide

Resource Center – Global Investigative Journalism Network

Global Investigative Journalism Network

"GIJN’s Resource Center is here to help journalists expand their knowledge and skills. The Center holds more than 2,000 items in 14 languages – from tip sheets and guides to instructional videos. Use the menu on the right to navigate it or the search box below to find topics you’re interested in."

Resource Database / Guide

Resource Center – Global Investigative Journalism Network

Summary:

"GIJN’s Resource Center is here to help journalists expand their knowledge and skills. The Center holds more than 2,000 items in 14 languages – from tip sheets and guides to instructional videos. Use the menu on the right to navigate it or the search box below to find topics you’re interested in."

Organization:

Global Investigative Journalism Network

Category:
For:
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Resource Database / Guide

Tip Sheet: Designing Science Graphics

"It’s tempting to proclaim that visual languages are more universal than spoken and written languages, and that the very act of presenting information in the form of a drawing instead of words makes it more accessible. But that’s not necessarily the case." "From initial exploratory sketches to the final product, creating a science graphic is a process."
Resource Database / Guide

Tip Sheet: Designing Science Graphics

Summary:
"It’s tempting to proclaim that visual languages are more universal than spoken and written languages, and that the very act of presenting information in the form of a drawing instead of words makes it more accessible. But that’s not necessarily the case." "From initial exploratory sketches to the final product, creating a science graphic is a process."
Author:

Jen Christiansen

Published By:

The Open Notebook

Date:

February 7, 2023

Category:
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Article

What’s Peer Review? 5 Things You Should Know Before Covering Research

"Is peer-reviewed research really superior? Why should journalists note in their stories whether studies have been peer reviewed? We explain."
Article

What’s Peer Review? 5 Things You Should Know Before Covering Research

Summary:
"Is peer-reviewed research really superior? Why should journalists note in their stories whether studies have been peer reviewed? We explain."
Author:

Denise-Marie Ordway

Published By:

The Journalist's Resource

Date:

May 8, 2021

Category:
For:
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Article

White Papers, Working Papers, Preprints, Journal Articles: What’s the Difference?

"In this updated piece, we explain the most common types of research papers journalists will encounter, noting their strengths and weaknesses."
Article

White Papers, Working Papers, Preprints, Journal Articles: What’s the Difference?

Summary:
"In this updated piece, we explain the most common types of research papers journalists will encounter, noting their strengths and weaknesses."
Author:

Denise-Marie Ordway

Published By:

The Journalist's Resource

Date:

February 25, 2022

Category:
For:
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Article

How To Gauge the Quality of a Research Study: 13 Questions Journalists Should Ask

"Asking these 13 questions can help journalists spot red flags in research, including studies that policymakers and elected officials use to defend their stances on certain issues."
Article

How To Gauge the Quality of a Research Study: 13 Questions Journalists Should Ask

Summary:
"Asking these 13 questions can help journalists spot red flags in research, including studies that policymakers and elected officials use to defend their stances on certain issues."
Author:

Denise-Marie Ordway

Published By:

The Journalist's Resource

Date:

September 22, 2025

Category:
For:
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