Frank Matt is a producer of the documentary series Explained from Vox and Netflix. In this interview, Pedro Márquez-Zacarías asks Matt about his work on “World’s Water Crisis,” an episode of the series, to explore aspects of the craft of science video journalism. For Matt, a key to tackling such a global issue is to anchor the story in local struggles, which can make the story more personal.
Expanding the idea of who constitutes an expert can help journalists uncover new angles in a story and bring in underrepresented voices. Journalists can start adding to their repertoire of nontraditional experts by looking locally to on-the-ground community members, interviewing early-career scientists as well as often overlooked professionals, and tapping into the expertise born of lived experience of health conditions or disabilities.
Ampliar la idea de quién constituye un experto puede ayudar a los periodistas a descubrir nuevos ángulos en una historia y atraer voces con poca representación. Los periodistas pueden comenzar a añadir a su repertorio de expertos no tradicionales tomando en cuenta miembros locales de la comunidad, entrevistando a científicos que están al comienzo de sus carreras, así como a profesionales que a menudo pasan desapercibidos, y aprovechando la experiencia vivida de condiciones de salud o discapacidades.
Contacting an editor for the first time can be intimidating, especially for writers who lack experience. It can be hard to even get the contact details of an editor. Although there is no standard way of introducing yourself to editors, most science writers make first contact by email, including at least a story idea, if not a full pitch. So, writing a persuasive, compelling email is key to having a successful first-time contact with an editor.
Applications are open through October 21, 2021, for the next round of The Open Notebook/Burroughs Wellcome Fund fellowship for early-career science writers. During this 10-month, part-time, remote fellowship, fellows will report for The Open Notebook with the guidance of a dedicated mentor.
Master your craft with The Open Notebook‘s free Science Journalism Master Classes. Each course drills into one skill or habit over a period of five to eight lessons that are delivered by email. You’ll have daily homework assignments, and you’ll come away from each course with new, actionable skills. These free courses are made possible by a grant from The Kavli Foundation.
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