When you’re reporting on science, interviews are often friendly—closer to collaborative than combative. Interviews that are more adversarial can be intimidating, and, in the worst case, they can be a deterrent to taking on investigative science stories. While the best way to get over this fear is probably to amass many years of practice, science writers with less investigative experience can fast-track their progress by learning from the pros.
When a journalist is on the prowl for story ideas, every yarn spun by a friend, every vacation adventure, and every quirky local news item can seem like the beginning of a great story idea. But few of those glimmers of inspiration will turn out to be real gems. Learning the right questions to ask about an idea can help journalists figure out whether an idea deserves to exist as a story, and what kind of story to pitch.
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. On this page, we compile detailed and specific resources and strategies for making that goal a reality.
The articles in this collection from The Open Notebook—on topics such as covering preprint manuscripts, interviewing people who have experienced trauma, spotting shady statistics, avoiding spreading misinformation, and more—are especially relevant for anyone covering the coronavirus pandemic.
Good Transitions: A Guide to Cementing Stories Together
A Day in the Life of Sabrina Imbler
Journalists as Characters: Using First-Person Narration to Drive Stories
COVID-19 Reporting Diaries: March 25–31, 2020
Reporting on Health: What 18 Journalists Wish They’d Known from the Start
How to Read a Scientific Paper
Interrogating Data: A Science Writer’s Guide to Data Journalism
Making Your Writing and Reporting Transgender-Inclusive
Writing When on the Autism Spectrum
How to Talk to Your Facebook Friends about Fake News
Follow Us