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Library

Topic: Journalism and communication practice
Resource Database / Guide

Tip sheet: The story behind award-winning stories: A conversation with Usha Lee McFarling

CASW Connector

When it comes to finding story ideas, Usha Lee McFarling has a simple tip: “Have your curiosity hat on,” she says. McFarling, national science correspondent for STAT, was the featured guest at an October 9 Connector Chat. She has won numerous awards throughout her career, including being part of a team that won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in explanatory journalism. Most recently, McFarling was named the recipient of the 2024 Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting. Facilitating the conversation was Steve Padilla, writing coach and Column One editor at the Los Angeles Times.
Resource Database / Guide

Insights and practical considerations for communicating basic science

Kavli Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy

This report provides "a synthesis of five years’ worth of themes, takeaways, tips, and new questions to explore going forward for basic scientists, science communicators, communications trainers, social science researchers, and more." It summarizes discussions from the Science Public Engagement Partnership, a collaboration between the Kavli Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Resource Database / Guide

The Public Health Communicators Guide to Misinformation

Public Health Communications Collaborative

"Building continued trust in public health requires communicators to learn how to identify false narratives and respond with clarity, accurate information, and accessible language. This guide, developed by the Public Health Communications Collaborative in partnership with the Infodemiology Training Program, provides foundational insights into the current misinformation landscape and an overview of tools for assessing risk and determining responses."
Resource Database / Guide

The Climate Blueprint

Covering Climate Now, Solutions Journalism Network

This collection of articles includes reflections from leading climate journalists about how to better cover the all-encompassing climate crisis. It includes connecting climate to every beat, engagement, visualization, disinformation, local journalism, identifying impact, collaborations, and more. The project was led by Solutions Journalism Network and Covering Climate Now, following discussions from a conference in fall 2023.
Video

CivicSciTV Network – YouTube

Civic Science Media Lab

CivicSciTV is a broadcasting network built and managed by the Civic Science Media Lab (CS Media Lab) that is mapping the civic nature of science which pertains to how science and its practitioners are interacting with local communities to solve real-world problems and foster informed decision-making. Through the practice of civic science journalism, the primary goal for the network is to engage scholars and practitioners across the landscape to make new insights more accessible, informative, and actionable for scientists across different career stages, science engagement practitioners (science communicators, science journalists, science educators, funders, entrepreneurs) and other decision-makers. Additional coverage is also provided on print and radio. The CS Media Lab is directed by former neuroscientist turned civic science scholar-journalist Fanuel Muindi, who is a professor of practice in the College of Arts, Media, and Design (CAMD) at Northeastern University.
Article

Writing tips for kids: Nailing the art of science writing

Sam Lloyd, a scientist and children's book author, shares insights about science and nature writing for children. "When we are writing about science and nature, non-fiction offers us endless opportunities to observe and translate information from the real world into a format that children will enjoy and learn from," she writes.
Newsletter

Cracking the Code: How to Navigate Trust in Science Conversations

American Chemical Society (ACS)

"The Cracking the Code: How to Navigate Trust in Science Conversations email course is here to equip you with the tools and skills you need to foster trust in science through meaningful conversations. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or just passionate about scientific topics, you'll learn how to engage in constructive dialogues, listen actively with empathy, and navigate potentially divisive discussions with confidence." This asynchronous email course is delivered weekly over seven weeks.
Resource Database / Guide

A practical guide to planning an engagement strategy for your global health research funding application

"This Mesh practical guide outlines how to plan a Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI*) strategy for a grant application. The guide describes how many global health funding agencies demand that CEI is fully integrated into any proposed research and it outlines some ways of engaging communities and relevant stakeholders whilst preparing a funding application. It also describes what to include in a thoughtful and appropriate engagement strategy that is integrated into research."
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.
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."
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."
Video

Trust in science: Understanding the trends and implications for science communication

National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine

"Recent survey data show declines in trust in science that mirror earlier trends for other institutions, including journalism and government. New research is shedding additional light on those patterns and illuminating some of the mechanisms that underlie the aggregated trends." In this May 30, 2024, National Academies webinar, researchers considered the differences between credibility, confidence, and trust; described new empirical findings; and discussed the implications for how to communicate science in a complex information landscape. Moderated by Mariette DiChristina of Boston University, panelists are Katherine Ognyanova of Rutgers University, Arthur Lupia of the University of Michigan, and Liz Hamel of KFF.
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.
Video

Media briefing: Tips for journalists reporting on opinion polls and surveys

SciLine

"Polling and survey research is evolving, posing an election-year challenge for reporters striving to convey results accurately and in appropriate historical context. This briefing covers current trends and novel approaches in opinion polling, the strengths and weaknesses of common types of polls and surveys, and how to interpret and report on results skillfully." Courtney Kennedy of the Pew Research Center, Gary Langer of Langer Research Associates, and Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux from the Associated Press provided examples and advice and responded to journalists’ questions.
Book

Engaging With the Press: A Guide for Perplexed Readers and Sources

"We train scientists and health professionals to collect and analyze evidence. Yet we’re far less intentional about equipping them to credibly communicate it in an increasingly skeptical and fragmented world." This resource, by veteran news executive Richard J. (Dick) Tofel, aims to address this challenge by preparing scientists, health professionals, and other sources of the news media to better understand the world of journalism and how they can engage with it. It describes the motivations of reporters, editors, and publishers; how material from sources is received; challenges for readers and sources, and more.
Conference

News Impact Summit: Fighting climate misinformation

European Journalism Centre

"The News Impact Summit in Copenhagen, organized in partnership with the Google News Initiative, will address how climate misinformation undermines public trust in climate policies and stalls progress toward a green transition." Journalists and media professionals who attend the summit will attend talks, panels, workshops, and interactive discussions that "explore innovative storytelling techniques to highlight the urgency of climate action, debunk falsehoods, and empower communities to demand accountability from policymakers and industry stakeholders."
Conference

Communicating Discovery Science – International symposium

Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) at Stellenbosch University

This symposium, sponsored by the Kavli Foundation, "aims to deepen understanding of effective public engagement around Discovery Science, also known as basic or foundational science, by exploring ways to improve the practice of communicating Discovery Science, share insights and create a supportive community for scientists and science communication practitioners focused on basic science."
Book

50 Essentials on Science Communication

"This handy and entertaining book provides the basics of goal-oriented science communication. It is aimed at career-building scientists and anyone who wants to take their first steps in the field of science communication. Experienced international authors in the field share their essential thoughts on important aspects of contemporary science communication."
Article

Seven lessons for journalism in the age of extreme heat

"Extreme heat is harming our societies. From children forced to stay away from school and agricultural workers struggling out in the field, to increased demand for electricity and health services, countries are not set up to deal with extreme heat in a warming world. ... "For journalists and newsrooms, this regular rhythm of extreme heat means that we can also prepare our coverage, in the same way we plan the coverage of elections, Olympic Games or the awards season. This idea ... was at the heart of our 2024 Oxford Climate Journalism Network Annual Event: Journalism in the Age of Extreme Heat. ... This is some of what we learned."
Article

How does science misinformation affect Americans from underrepresented communities?

Boston University

"New Boston University–led research has found historically excluded and marginalized Americans may be more vulnerable to inaccurate notions about science due to 'structural and institutional power dynamics.'" The Brink, Boston University's online publication for sharing research news, spoke to paper author Michelle Amazeen about the study's findings.
Article

10 ways researchers can help journalists avoid errors when reporting on academic studies

"This tip sheet outlines some of the many ways researchers can help the news media cover research accurately, starting with the journalists who interview them about their own work." It offers tips to researchers for approaching interviews with journalists, differences in language between academia and media, and giving feedback to journalists.
Resource Database / Guide

Tip sheet: Science journalism and communication in the misinformation era

CASW Connector

On April 16, CASW Connector hosted a Chat discussing science journalism and communication in the misinformation era. The panelists talked about key concepts – and misconceptions – that journalists and communicators encounter in combating misinformation, shared insights from research on how people process information, and answered questions from the audience. This event was facilitated by Connector managing editor Kate Travis, and the panelists were: Kai Kupferschmidt, contributing correspondent at Science and Knight Science Journalism Fellow, and Briony Swire-Thompson, director of the Psychology of Misinformation Lab and assistant professor of political science, psychology, and network science at Northeastern University.
Video

Memory and belief regression after the correction of misinformation

Harvard University; Shorenstein Center for Media, Politics and Public Policy

"After misinformation has been corrected individuals initially update their belief extremely well. However, this change is rarely sustained over time, with belief returning towards pre-correction levels. In this edition of the Misinformation Speaker Series, Briony Swire-Thompson discusses a study aimed to examine the mechanisms of belief regression, and whether corrected misinformation suffers more from belief regression than affirmed facts."
Article

Misinformation, trust, and personality in journalism: A conversation with Kai Kupferschmidt

Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT

Science Magazine contributing writer Kai Kupferschmidt has "witnessed how social media — and the personalities who populate it — can impact the public’s ability to distinguish facts from fiction. Now, as a 2023-24 Knight Science Journalism Fellow, Kupferschmidt is digging deeper into those issues." In this interview, he discusses his plans for his MIT fellowship and his perspectives on misinformation and related issues.