Journalism and communication practice Archives

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.

Tip sheet: Science journalism and communication in the misinformation era

Summary:

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.

Organization:

CASW Connector

Date:

April 22, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

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.

Article

Reducing health misinformation in science: A call to arms

"The public often turns to science for accurate health information, which, in an ideal world, would be error free. However, limitations of scientific institutions and scientific processes can sometimes amplify misinformation and disinformation... We characterize this article as a “call to arms,” given the urgent need for the scientific information ecosystem to improve. Improvements are necessary to maintain the public’s trust in science, foster robust discourse, and encourage a well-educated citizenry."

Video

How to use ocean data for journalism

Pulitzer Center

"Ocean data is diverse and can range from information about vessels, cargo, currents, and biodiversity, to scientific databases about salinity and pollution levels. Utilizing ocean data in reporting enhances the accuracy, accountability, and predictive capabilities regarding ocean-related issues. Access to databases helps journalists, scientists, policymakers, and the general public understand the complexities of ocean ecosystems and the impact of human activities on marine environments." The panelists in this webinar from the Pulitzer Center are: Alexandra Talty, Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Network Fellow; Alexander More, climate and health scientist at Harvard University; Georgios Hatzimanolis, head of global communications and branding at Kpler/MarineTraffic; and Jean-Charles Gordon: ship tracking director at Kpler/MarineTraffic.

How to use ocean data for journalism

Summary:

"Ocean data is diverse and can range from information about vessels, cargo, currents, and biodiversity, to scientific databases about salinity and pollution levels. Utilizing ocean data in reporting enhances the accuracy, accountability, and predictive capabilities regarding ocean-related issues. Access to databases helps journalists, scientists, policymakers, and the general public understand the complexities of ocean ecosystems and the impact of human activities on marine environments." The panelists in this webinar from the Pulitzer Center are: Alexandra Talty, Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Network Fellow; Alexander More, climate and health scientist at Harvard University; Georgios Hatzimanolis, head of global communications and branding at Kpler/MarineTraffic; and Jean-Charles Gordon: ship tracking director at Kpler/MarineTraffic.

Organization:

Pulitzer Center

Date:

March 12, 2024

Category:

For:

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Article

Misinformation: 3 tips to help journalists avoid being part of the problem

"In his new book, How America Lost Its Mind, Harvard Kennedy School professor Thomas Patterson charts the dramatic rise in misinformation over the past three decades. On everything from climate change to vaccines, millions of Americans hold views that are wildly at odds with the facts and are confounding efforts to deal with the nation’s policy problems." In this article, "Patterson offers journalists three tips on how to avoid being part of the misinformation problem as well as suggestions for what to do instead."

Article

Preventing the Spread of Misinformation & Disinformation

Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA)

This statement from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) offers guidance to journalists on how to protect against spreading false and misleading information.

Resource Database / Guide

How to Responsibly Report on Hacks and Disinformation: 10 guidelines and a template for every newsroom

Stanford Cyber Policy Center

"The run-up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election illustrated how vulnerable our most venerated journalistic outlets are to a new kind of information warfare. Reporters are a targeted adversary of foreign and domestic actors who want to harm our democracy. And to cope with this threat, especially in an election year, news organizations need to prepare for another wave of false, misleading, and hacked information." This report offers a playbook for newsrooms to adopt that includes "core principles and standards for reporting on newsworthy events involving false, misleading and hacked information."

How to Responsibly Report on Hacks and Disinformation: 10 guidelines and a template for every newsroom

Summary:

"The run-up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election illustrated how vulnerable our most venerated journalistic outlets are to a new kind of information warfare. Reporters are a targeted adversary of foreign and domestic actors who want to harm our democracy. And to cope with this threat, especially in an election year, news organizations need to prepare for another wave of false, misleading, and hacked information." This report offers a playbook for newsrooms to adopt that includes "core principles and standards for reporting on newsworthy events involving false, misleading and hacked information."

Organization:

Stanford Cyber Policy Center

Author:

Janine Zacharia, Andrew Grotto

Category:

For:

Journalists

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Workshop

ComSciCon24 Flagship Workshop

ComSciCon

The 12th annual ComSciCon Flagship Workshop will be at Emerson College in Boston. ComSciCon provides graduate student attendees with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet early career leaders in science communication while also learning from, and interacting with, a remarkable group of invited scicomm experts. ComSciCon empowers future leaders in science communication to share their research and passions with broad and diverse audiences. Attendance at ComSciCon is limited to current (or recently graduated) graduate students in residence at US or Canadian institutions. International students who study at US and Canadian institutions are gladly welcomed. Recent graduates must have graduated no earlier than December 2023. The application deadline is March 22.

Awards

Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications

National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, Schmidt Futures

Applications for the 2024 awards are now open, with a deadline of March 31. "The National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, given by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in partnership with Schmidt Sciences, recognize excellent science communicators, science journalists, and research scientists who have developed creative, original work to communicate issues and advances in science, engineering, or medicine for the general public." In 2024, the awards will be given to nine research scientists, nine science journalists, and six science communicators who developed created, original work published or released in 2023 that explores issues or advances in science, engineering or medicine for the general public.

Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications

Summary:

Applications for the 2024 awards are now open, with a deadline of March 31. "The National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, given by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in partnership with Schmidt Sciences, recognize excellent science communicators, science journalists, and research scientists who have developed creative, original work to communicate issues and advances in science, engineering, or medicine for the general public." In 2024, the awards will be given to nine research scientists, nine science journalists, and six science communicators who developed created, original work published or released in 2023 that explores issues or advances in science, engineering or medicine for the general public.

Organization:

National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, Schmidt Futures

Category:

For:

VISIT

Video

Science journalism in the digital age – online lecture series

German Science Journalists' Association, Science Media Center Germany

The German Science Journalists’ Association and the Science Media Center Germany organized a 2020-21 virtual lecture series on "future-proofing" science journalism in response to structural change in the media environment. A 2023 version of the series included 10 lectures on digital transformation in journalism and practical solutions. That series culminated in a November 2023 conference. Videos of the lectures, some in English and some in German, from the first two series as well as transcripts and additional commentary in English and German are available online in this "knowledge reservoir," and documents from the conference are expected to be added.

Science journalism in the digital age – online lecture series

Summary:

The German Science Journalists’ Association and the Science Media Center Germany organized a 2020-21 virtual lecture series on "future-proofing" science journalism in response to structural change in the media environment. A 2023 version of the series included 10 lectures on digital transformation in journalism and practical solutions. That series culminated in a November 2023 conference. Videos of the lectures, some in English and some in German, from the first two series as well as transcripts and additional commentary in English and German are available online in this "knowledge reservoir," and documents from the conference are expected to be added.

Organization:

German Science Journalists' Association, Science Media Center Germany

Category:

For:

VISIT

Article

Everyone is a climate reporter now

"For many news organizations, especially local ones, climate coverage is still seen as separate and distinct from other beats. But rapidly rising temperatures and a corresponding shift in weather patterns is now the context for most, if not all, news stories." In this article, writer Jill Hopke argues that all reporters should receive training in covering climate issues and discusses some suggestions for how to implement such training.

Resource Database / Guide

Tipsheet: Covering long COVID

This tipsheet shares tips and resources from a session at NICAR, the data journalism conference, about covering Long COVID informed by data, records, and patient experiences. The summary of the session reads: "Long COVID is a public health crisis: Millions of Americans have been impacted by this debilitating condition, many of them facing lost work, hard-to-access medical care and other challenges. This session will introduce you to the basics of covering Long COVID from a data/investigative perspective, including recommendations for datasources, records requests and patient interviews."

Tipsheet: Covering long COVID

Summary:

This tipsheet shares tips and resources from a session at NICAR, the data journalism conference, about covering Long COVID informed by data, records, and patient experiences. The summary of the session reads: "Long COVID is a public health crisis: Millions of Americans have been impacted by this debilitating condition, many of them facing lost work, hard-to-access medical care and other challenges. This session will introduce you to the basics of covering Long COVID from a data/investigative perspective, including recommendations for datasources, records requests and patient interviews."

Author:

Betsy Ladyzhets

Date:

March 3, 2023

Category:

For:

Journalists

VISIT

Video

Exploring mathematics’ uncrowded space for journalists and writers

International Center for Journalists

This webinar, part of a series about mathematics reporting, discusses how journalists and writers can cover this topic. The session was led by Erica Klarreich, a mathematics writer whose work has been featured in many well-known publications and multiple editions of The Best Writing on Mathematics. Klarreich explained how to uncover captivating stories and opportunities for covering mathematics.

Exploring mathematics’ uncrowded space for journalists and writers

Summary:

This webinar, part of a series about mathematics reporting, discusses how journalists and writers can cover this topic. The session was led by Erica Klarreich, a mathematics writer whose work has been featured in many well-known publications and multiple editions of The Best Writing on Mathematics. Klarreich explained how to uncover captivating stories and opportunities for covering mathematics.

Organization:

International Center for Journalists

Date:

August 3, 2023

Category:

For:

VISIT

Video

How to pitch climate change stories to editors

International Center for Journalists

This webinar discusses how journalists can wade through the extensive public discussions around climate change to pitch stories that are urgent and impactful. The event featured Greg Mott, sustainability editor at POLITICO, who shared tips for story pitches he would like to see.

How to pitch climate change stories to editors

Summary:

This webinar discusses how journalists can wade through the extensive public discussions around climate change to pitch stories that are urgent and impactful. The event featured Greg Mott, sustainability editor at POLITICO, who shared tips for story pitches he would like to see.

Organization:

International Center for Journalists

Date:

November 1, 2022

Category:

For:

Journalists

VISIT

Resource Database / Guide

Body Politic’s comprehensive guide to covering long COVID

Body Politic, USC Annenberg

"After a year of writing about long COVID, interviewing patients, and being interviewed myself, I created a comprehensive guide for journalists covering the long-term symptoms of COVID-19," author Fiona Lowenstein writes in an accompanying article at the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism's website. "To understand more about what we can learn from the past, I talked with veteran health journalists David Tuller, Linda Villarosa, and Julie Rehmeyer, as well as New York Times editorial board member Mara Gay, who is recovering from long COVID. I also spoke with patients and activists to learn more about how patients want reporters to tell their stories."

Conference

Science Talk 2024

Association of Science Communicators

Science Talk is the annual conference of the Association of Science Communicators. The 2024 iteration will include virtual programming from April 3-9, and the in-person portion will take place in Portland, Oregon, on April 11-12. All attendees will have access to virtual presentations. The conference features talks, workshops, and networking about science communication projects, research, best practices, and more.

Workshop

Using ChatGPT for Communications

Methods for Change, Institute for Methods Innovation

"Join us for an immersive workshop series that explores the transformative potential of ChatGPT in enhancing communication strategies and content creation. Whether you’re a science communicator, marketer, content creator, or social media enthusiast, this workshop is designed to equip you with the skills to leverage ChatGPT for creating captivating narratives for videos, engaging social media content, and impactful communication materials such as posters and infographics."

Organization

PCST Network

"The Network for the Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST Network) is an organization that promotes discussion on the theory and practice of communicating science, and of public discourses about science and technology and their role in society." Members come from a range of backgrounds, including researchers working on the theory and practice of science communication, communication staff working for research organizations, staff at science centers and museums, science journalists, and more. The PCST Network has a biennial conference and regular webinars for members.

PCST Network

Summary:

"The Network for the Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST Network) is an organization that promotes discussion on the theory and practice of communicating science, and of public discourses about science and technology and their role in society." Members come from a range of backgrounds, including researchers working on the theory and practice of science communication, communication staff working for research organizations, staff at science centers and museums, science journalists, and more. The PCST Network has a biennial conference and regular webinars for members.

Category:

For:

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Article

How do science journalists decide whether a psychology study is worth covering?

"A recent study finds that sample size is the only factor having a robust influence on 181 science journalists’ ratings of the trustworthiness and newsworthiness of a study. But [the authors] note that, overall, these journalists are doing a 'very decent job' vetting research. Here's how they do it."

Video

CASW New Horizons in Science session recordings — ScienceWriters2023

CASW

If you missed ScienceWriters2023, the annual meeting of the National Association of Science Writers (NASW) and Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW), you can check out recordings of five sessions from CASW’s Science + Science Writing program on the organization’s YouTube channel. The sessions include covering Long COVID, the toxic train disaster in Ohio, tracking indoor air quality after a wildfire, a primer on the different types of applied AI, and NASA's recent report on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). Each session features scientific experts as well as journalists discussing best practices for covering a particular topic.

CASW New Horizons in Science session recordings — ScienceWriters2023

Summary:

If you missed ScienceWriters2023, the annual meeting of the National Association of Science Writers (NASW) and Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW), you can check out recordings of five sessions from CASW’s Science + Science Writing program on the organization’s YouTube channel. The sessions include covering Long COVID, the toxic train disaster in Ohio, tracking indoor air quality after a wildfire, a primer on the different types of applied AI, and NASA's recent report on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). Each session features scientific experts as well as journalists discussing best practices for covering a particular topic.

Organization:

CASW

Date:

October 31, 2023

Category:

For:

VISIT

Article

How to report on physics and physicists in an accurate and accessible way

Institute of Physics (IOP)

"You as journalists can have life-changing impacts on those reading, watching or listening. To help, the IOP has produced a guide and a handy checklist to help ensure that your coverage of physics steers clear of entrenched stereotypes and instead presents an accurate representation of our subject and who does it. Our guide is packed with advice, plus we have a toolkit including sources for quotes, tips for inclusive language and links to physics explanations, along with other resources too."

Academic center

USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism

University of Southern California (USC), USC Annenberg

This center, based at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, offers a variety of trainings and resources for journalists. It hosts fellowship programs, provides reporting grants, hosts webinars, and sends a regular newsletter about health reporting. Some resources are geared towards health reporters in California, but many apply to those across the U.S.

Video

Kavli Conversations on Science Communication at NYU

NYU, The Kavli Foundation

"What happens when leading journalists who cover science and eminent scientists who reach mass audiences get together to exchange ideas? What do their differing perspectives tell us about how science communication is changing and how we can do it better?" Science writers can participate in this ongoing event series either in-person in New York City or online, with videos from past events hosted on the NYU website. The series is sponsored by the Kavli Foundation and the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program at NYU.

Kavli Conversations on Science Communication at NYU

Summary:

"What happens when leading journalists who cover science and eminent scientists who reach mass audiences get together to exchange ideas? What do their differing perspectives tell us about how science communication is changing and how we can do it better?" Science writers can participate in this ongoing event series either in-person in New York City or online, with videos from past events hosted on the NYU website. The series is sponsored by the Kavli Foundation and the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program at NYU.

Organization:

NYU, The Kavli Foundation

Category:

For:

VISIT

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.

Being a Science Journalist

Summary:

"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.

Organization:

Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT

Category:

For:

VISIT

Find a resource

Library

Tip sheet: Science journalism and communication in the misinformation era

Memory and belief regression after the correction of misinformation

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

Reducing health misinformation in science: A call to arms

How to use ocean data for journalism

Misinformation: 3 tips to help journalists avoid being part of the problem

Preventing the Spread of Misinformation & Disinformation

How to Responsibly Report on Hacks and Disinformation: 10 guidelines and a template for every newsroom

ComSciCon24 Flagship Workshop

Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications

Science journalism in the digital age – online lecture series

Everyone is a climate reporter now

Tipsheet: Covering long COVID

Exploring mathematics’ uncrowded space for journalists and writers

How to pitch climate change stories to editors

Body Politic’s comprehensive guide to covering long COVID

Science Talk 2024

Using ChatGPT for Communications

PCST Network

How do science journalists decide whether a psychology study is worth covering?

CASW New Horizons in Science session recordings — ScienceWriters2023

How to report on physics and physicists in an accurate and accessible way

USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism

Kavli Conversations on Science Communication at NYU

Being a Science Journalist