In March 2014, mathematics and science journalist Erica Klarreich got a rare chance to report exclusively on a top math story. Thomas Lin, the managing editor of Quanta Magazine, had convinced the International Mathematical Union […]
When we launched The Open Notebook in October 2010, our goal was modest: to conduct a series of intermittent interviews with writers whose work we admired. It wasn’t long before we started hankering to do more, but […]
Good headlines achieve balance. They pique the reader’s interest without demanding it, they allude to the story without giving it away, and they give specific details without being technical. On top of that, good […]
Like reporters on any beat, science journalists have the option of telling stories through a variety of media. Audio and video provide alternate ways of crafting compelling narratives. But writing for multimedia outlets involves a […]
Imagine that you are a salesperson tasked with selling a special product. Most people know very little about the product, and many have had a bad experience with similar items. People can’t see what […]
Self-editing is a selfless endeavor. You cut, replace, rearrange, and endlessly re-read—all for the reader’s benefit. “Journalism is all about having a sense of empathy with your audience,” says Dan Fagin, director of the […]
We are pleased to announce the recipients of our newly established fellowship for early-career science journalists, sponsored by a generous grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. We received many excellent applications and would have been very […]
Writing a nut graf can feel like showing your work on a math test or stopping at traffic lights when no one’s around. Ask journalists about how they constructed a nut graf, and some […]
Laura Beil Dissects a Criminal Doctor’s Surgical Rampage
Asking for More: Negotiating Rates for Freelance Assignments
How Rebecca Skloot Built The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Pitching Errors: How Not to Pitch
How to Talk to Your Facebook Friends about Fake News
Nailing the Nut Graf
Finding and Landing the Right Internship in Science Writing
Good Transitions: A Guide to Cementing Stories Together
Trading the Pipette for the Pen: Transitioning from Science to Science Writing
Writing When on the Autism Spectrum
Good Beginnings: How to Write a Lede Your Editor—and Your Readers—Will Love
No Need to Fear FOIA
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