How do people get started in science writing? This is one of the most common questions that science writers get asked, and there are as many answers as there are science writers. Here we collect dozens of those answers from some of the best in the business, each of whom also offers one pithy nugget of advice for newcomers.
We’re delighted to announce the first of our Science Journalism Master Classes, a series of online courses that will be delivered by email. Our hands-on classes are designed to help science writers wherever they are in their careers—novice, developing, or established—sharpen the core skills this business requires. And thanks to a generous grant from The Kavli Foundation, our courses are free to anyone, anywhere in the world.
Since December, the pandemic news cycle has revolved around one thing: vaccines. Science writers covering the vaccine rollout must balance accurate reporting with understanding their readers’ potential vaccine hesitancy, acknowledging disparities, explaining data, holding those responsible for distribution failures accountable, and more. The Open Notebook compiled resources and advice from journalists with experience on the vaccine beat to help writers now following this complicated topic.
You’ve baked bread, learned a TikTok dance, and binged Bridgerton. Now it’s time for your next great quarantine project: creating a science-themed diorama out of that most revered of crafting material, the Peep!
During last year’s #PeepYourScience contest, entrants wowed the judges with a peep into the life of a data scientist, a poop-sniffing Peep pup, and marshmallowy chicks saving the planet!
How will you #PeepYourScience in 2021?
At some point in their career, most journalists will make a mistake, from minor ones such as misspellings to more significant ones like misunderstanding the conclusions of a study. It’s crucial to understand how mistakes happen, so journalists can do their best to avoid them—and understand how to handle them when they do occur.
With mental conditions like depression and PTSD so common in modern society, it’s likely that a science editor will, at some point, work with writers who have mental health conditions. But insufficient training can leave editors unprepared for handling mental health issues that surface in the workplace. That said, there’s much that editors and managers can do to foster an environment of safety and support, say many who have first-hand experience with these challenges.
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