The Open Notebook‘s Covering Science peer-mentoring program is a diverse community of practice for local and general assignment reporters and editors who may not have a background in science but are interested in adding more scientific perspectives to their stories. In the everyday work of a local reporter, this might look like:
- Covering the psychological effects of school start times at a local school district
- Adding context about climate change to a TV spot about wildfires or floods in the area
- Interviewing an infectious disease researcher for a story on flu season
- Reporting on the disproportionate impact of pollution in low-income communities
Members of this growing community of more than 100 members are invited to participate in our Slack group, where they can seek and offer advice on any topic related to covering science. Conversations in the community center on topics such as how to identify and explore science angles in story ideas, how to find suitable expert sources, how to decipher scientific studies, and more. Our community also includes 15 experienced science journalists who serve as peer mentors, helping members gain skills and confidence in reporting on science.
Find more resources from The Open Notebook focused on covering science at the local level, including newsroom trainings, tip sheets, interactive tools like our Science Reporting Navigator, in-depth practical guidance, and more.
As part of this program, we offer guided topical discussions, webinars centered on core challenges of covering science, informal virtual gatherings, a regular newsletter just for community members, and other opportunities to learn how to incorporate scientific evidence and perspectives into local stories. Our science journalist mentors are also available for one-on-one consultations.
This program is supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the Simons Foundation and is managed by Rachel Zamzow, deputy executive director of The Open Notebook, and Sandeep Ravindran, a project manager at The Open Notebook.
There is no cost to participate in this program.
Eligibility
We welcome participants who work as reporters or editors (staff or freelance) at local, regional, and general assignment media outlets. This program is not intended for students or science journalists who work for science-specializing outlets
Questions?
If you have any questions, please email Rachel Zamzow: rachelzamzow@theopennotebook.com.