“When a journalist is on the prowl for a new story, every yarn spun by a friend, every press release, every vacation adventure, and every quirky local news item can
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“Not all science writing has to be deeply academic or focused on dense concepts. Science writing can be crowd-pleasing, and shareable, and even sarcastic or funny. And it can belong
View from Finding the science in any story
“From developing an idea, to crafting a proposal and selling it to a publisher, to actually writing the thing itself, publishing a book is an arduous process. Thankfully, you can
View from A book publishing primer for science writers
This tipsheet shares a video recording and key takeaways from a webinar that The Journalist’s Resource hosted on November 30, 2023. The event featured Ivan Oransky, Elisabeth Bik and Jodi
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“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
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Jane Qiu, an independent science writer based in Beijing, won a 2022 AAAS Kavli Award for this profile of virologist Shi Zhengli, a central figure in the global debate about
View from Meet the scientist at the center of the covid lab leak controversy
“In October 2022, Indigenous affairs journalist B. “Toastie” Oaster wrote a High Country News feature about the fate of Pacific lamprey. This lushly written story explores how Indigenous peoples in
View from Storygram: B. “Toastie” Oaster’s “Pacific lamprey’s ancient agreement with tribes is the future of conservation”
“In a world of growing geopolitical tensions, science remains one common language for developing coordinated international action. When trust in science is compromised, the capacity for cohesive global policy action
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“Research can be an insulating endeavor, but bringing my work out of the lab and sharing it with the wider world of politics helped deepen my appreciation for science and
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“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
View from How do science journalists decide whether a psychology study is worth covering?
Maryn McKenna, senior writer at WIRED and a widely published author, won CASW’s Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting in 2023 for her coverage of infectious diseases
View from The Plague Years: How the rise of right-wing nationalism is jeopardizing the world’s health
Ashley Smart, senior editor at Undark, associate director of the Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT, and CASW’s treasurer, won a 2023 NASW Science and Society award for this story.
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“What are the essentials of a strong proposal for a journalism fellowship? Fellowships can boost your career in many ways. They provide a supportive environment that can yield more impactful
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“Grants and fellowships have long been important funding sources, providing writers time and money to dig deeper into a story or subject area than they otherwise could. These sources of
View from Paying for it: Getting grants and fellowships
“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
View from How to report on physics and physicists in an accurate and accessible way
Sahana Ghosh, associate editor at Nature India, describes lessons and takeaways from a workshop that she led to help Indian newsrooms address climate misinformation. “I came away with a strong
View from To help journalists cover rising temperatures, newsrooms need to start with climate literacy
In this story, freelance science writer Jane Qiu explores how fossil finds in China — dating back to the Peking Man, found in 1929 — have challenged established ideas about
View from The Forgotten Continent
Tony Bartelme’s series about how climate change has impacted the South Carolina Lowcountry won an award from the American Geophysical Union in 2017. Showcase hosts one of these stories. Bartelme,
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“If a scientist’s goal is to deliver content and expertise to the people who need it, then other stakeholder groups—the media, the government, industry—need to be considered as partners to
View from Science Communication in a Crisis: An Insider’s Guide
Mike Hixenbaugh’s story on efforts by a Houston hospital to restore patients with severe brain injuries won an AAAS Kavli award in 2018. The story weaves personal narrative with scientific
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“The absence of trees is not just an aesthetic discrepancy — it can impact human health and well-being, a growing body of research shows.” This tip sheet from The Journalist’s
View from Tree equity and trees’ impact on surface temperatures, human health: A research roundup
“In Ideas into Words, Elise Hancock, a professional writer and editor with thirty years of experience, provides both novice and seasoned science writers with the practical advice and canny insights
View from Ideas into Words: Mastering the Craft of Science Writing
This feature is the central story of Black Snow, a series by ProPublica and The Palm Beach Post investigating the health impacts – and government failures – of burning sugar
View from The Smoke Comes Every Year. Sugar Companies Say the Air Is Safe.
As fall approaches and the FDA and CDC evaluate updated vaccines for COVID-19, “it’s crucial [that reporters] work to dispel any confusion about the boosters and provide their audience with
View from Curbing the confusion: Strategies for covering the latest COVID booster shot approvals
“In this late stage of the pandemic, it may feel challenging to keep COVID-19 stories fresh for a fatigued public. But COVID-19 is here to stay, so it may help
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