Meehan Crist Explores the Ethics of Having Children in the Era of Climate Change

In March, a lecture Meehan Crist had given in London was adapted into an essay called “Is It OK to Have a Child?” In the piece, which grapples with the ethics of having children in the era of climate change, Crist embarks on a fraught discussion about parenthood, crisis, and, ultimately, individual empowerment. Here, she discusses her inspiration, the stumbling blocks she hit along the way, and the process of grounding the difficult subject of climate change in personal narrative.

Katherine J. Wu Aug 4, 2020

Interrogating Data: A Science Writer’s Guide to Data Journalism

Data journalism is the practice of using numbers and trends to tell a story. It requires a variety of skills: research to find the correct dataset, analysis to determine what kind of story this dataset may tell, and presentation to share that story with readers. And these skills are within reach for many science writers, even without any programming background, because science writers already possess the most crucial tool of any data journalist—they ask good questions.

Betsy Ladyzhets Jul 28, 2020

Cómo leer un artículo científico

The Open Notebook está aquí con una guía sobre cómo leer un artículo científico. Estos consejos y trucos funcionarán si estás cubriendo la pandemia de Covid-19, biología del desarrollo o la exploración del espacio. La clave es familiarizarse con el marco en el que los científicos describen sus descubrimientos y no ahogarte en los detalles mientras intentas comprender el punto central de todo. Como ejemplo específico, hemos anotado un artículo de Science en la imagen adjunta.

Alexandra Witze Jul 15, 2020

What to Do When a Source Asks to See Your Unpublished Copy

Sources often ask to see quotes or drafts before publication to ensure that their work is accurately represented and that the opinions they’ve given don’t reflect poorly on them. But even when well intentioned, most journalists agree these requests usually can’t be accommodated without a breach of integrity. As such, navigating these conversations kindly and effectively is a critical part of the science journalist’s job. Here’s how to set the record straight.

Katherine J. Wu Jun 30, 2020

Stephanie Lee Unravels the Conflicts of Interest Behind a Controversial COVID-19 Study

In May, BuzzFeed News reporter Stephanie Lee broke a massive story based on a whistleblower complaint, filed with Stanford University, criticizing the researchers behind a controversial study on COVID-19 antibody testing. The lengthy document revealed that JetBlue’s founder, a known critic of ongoing economic shutdowns, had financially backed the research. It also noted that the scientists who had compiled the data had ignored concerns from their colleagues about the reliability of the antibody test their results were based on. Here, Lee explains how her story unfolded—and why she can’t reveal much about the original tip.

Katherine J. Wu Jun 23, 2020

Finding Diverse Sources for Science Stories

Including diverse voices in science stories ensures more accurate and complete stories that more fully reflect and inform readers, and is the equitable thing to do. No matter how much or how little time you have, prioritizing diversity in sourcing should be a core part of any journalist’s working routine. Here, we compile detailed and specific resources and strategies for making that goal a reality.