TON Fellowship Stories Archives - The Open Notebook

Post Tagged with: "TON Fellowship Stories"

Juan Miguel Álvarez interviewing Afro-Colombian leader Elizabeth Moreno Barco in Cucurrupí, Colombia, on the banks of the San Juan River, while residents from the place watch.

How Collaborative Journalism Enabled Reporting on Latin America’s Threats to Environmental Leaders

Ten countries, 38 reporters, 29 in-depth stories, and a database that documents nearly 2,400 acts of violence against Latin American environmental leaders are a few of the numbers that characterize the ambitious Land of Resistants project. To achieve their goals, the team clearly defined concepts, methods, and deadlines from the beginning. Ethical and practical questions about safety arose at every step, so the team had to take care of each other. Editing was a balancing act of letting different styles shine and answering the project’s core questions.

by María Paula Rubiano A. · May 4, 2021 · Comments are Disabled

Juan Miguel Álvarez interviewing Afro-Colombian leader Elizabeth Moreno Barco in Cucurrupí, Colombia, on the banks of the San Juan River, while residents from the place watch.

Cómo el periodismo colaborativo permitió reportear la violencia contra líderes ambientales en Latinoamérica

Diez países, 38 reporteros, 29 reportajes de largo aliento y una base de datos que documenta más de 2.400 episodios violentos contra líderes ambientales latinoamericanos son algunas de las cifras del ambicioso proyecto periodístico Tierra de Resistentes. Para completar el proyecto, el equipo delimitó claramente los conceptos más relevantes, la metodología para investigar y un cronograma de trabajo. Por la naturaleza del tema, los reporteros y editores tuvieron que responder preguntas éticas y prácticas sobre seguridad en cada paso de la reportería. La edición fue un delicado acto de equilibrismo en el que darle brillo al estilo de cada periodista fue tan importante como responder las preguntas centrales del proyecto.

by María Paula Rubiano A. · May 4, 2021 · Comments are Disabled

How to Find Scientist Sources and Plan Interviews

How to Find Scientist Sources and Plan Interviews

Interviewing scientists is a basic part of science journalism. But choosing the right sources and having a successful conversation can be a challenging task—even for seasoned reporters. There is no guarantee that every interview is going to be great, but planning and preparing well can maximize your chances of getting the information you need and having a successful story.

by Abdullahi Tsanni · April 27, 2021 · Comments are Disabled

Tip Sheet: A Getting-Started Guide for Newcomers to Science Writing

Tip Sheet: A Getting-Started Guide for Newcomers to Science Writing

Maybe you’re a scientist who’s making the leap into journalism. Maybe you’re a general-assignment reporter, or an education reporter, or a city hall reporter, and you’ve been assigned your first science story. Or maybe you’re a journalism student who wants to try covering science or medicine or the environment. But whoever you are, if you’re brand new to science journalism, this tip sheet is for you.

by Shira Feder · April 13, 2021 · Comments are Disabled

Consejos para periodistas: Una guía de inducción para quienes se inician en el periodismo científico

Consejos para periodistas: Una guía de inducción para quienes se inician en el periodismo científico

Quizás eres un científico que está dando el salto al periodismo. Tal vez seas un reportero de asignaciones generales, de educación o de política y te han asignado tu primera noticia sobre un tema científico. O tal vez eres un estudiante de periodismo que quiere probar cubrir temas de ciencia, medicina o medio ambiente. Sin importar quién seas, si eres nuevo en el periodismo científico, estos consejos son para ti.

by Shira Feder · April 13, 2021 · Comments are Disabled

How to Handle a Mistake

How to Handle a Mistake

At some point in their career, most journalists will make a mistake, from minor ones such as misspellings to more significant ones like misunderstanding the conclusions of a study. It’s crucial to understand how mistakes happen, so journalists can do their best to avoid them—and understand how to handle them when they do occur.

by Shira Feder · February 9, 2021 · Comments are Disabled

How to Deal with Negative Reactions to Stories

How to Deal with Negative Reactions to Stories

Many writers will at some point write a piece that generates a negative reaction from readers. Sometimes it’s warranted, and was perhaps avoidable; sometimes, as one editor puts it, “people are just jerks.” But tucked into the backlash is often a lesson—whether it’s about boosting your digital security, building out your source list for your next piece, or partnering with your editor to dispel any self-doubt that’s crept in during the process.

by Katherine J. Wu · January 12, 2021 · Comments are Disabled

Medical flat lay background. COVID 19 healthcare medicine concept. Full frame shot of face mask placed with stethoscope and medical scrubs. All are on green background. Knolling concept.

Reporting on Health: What 18 Journalists Wish They’d Known from the Start

Most journalists will agree that learning how to properly report on science news takes time, but as news of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate headlines, it’s now a job that many reporters must learn quickly. To help new science journalists, whether they’re fresh out of college, career changers, or seasoned journalists being given an unexpected assignment, The Open Notebook asked 18 science journalists for their most practical advice for covering the health and science beat. Here’s what they told us.

by Shira Feder · September 1, 2020 · Comments are Disabled

How to Find Patient Stories on Social Media

How to Find Patient Stories on Social Media

Patient narratives can add depth and heart to health reporting, putting faces to statistics and grounding data that might otherwise seem obscure. And thanks to social media platforms, it’s become easier than ever for journalists to find new sources to fill these gaps. But venturing into this virtual territory also raises some complex ethical quandaries about the spaces reporters should and shouldn’t invite themselves into—and how to balance timeliness and accuracy with sensitivity and compassion.

by Katherine J. Wu · August 11, 2020 · Comments are Disabled

Meehan Crist

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.

by Katherine J. Wu · August 4, 2020 · Comments are Disabled

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

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.

by Katherine J. Wu · June 30, 2020 · Comments are Disabled

Stephanie Lee

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.

by Katherine J. Wu · June 23, 2020 · Comments are Disabled

Amy Maxmen Unveils Scientific Roadblocks Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

In covering infectious disease, Nature senior reporter Amy Maxmen keeps the focus on the scientists behind new discoveries. Six years after she wrote about the Ebola outbreak that began in West Africa in 2014, Maxmen is once again writing about a viral pandemic. Here, she tells Katherine J. Wu about finding unique angles on COVID-19, how her experiences with Ebola reporting have informed her journalism, and how a borrowed Chihuahua is helping her get through the pandemic.

by Katherine J. Wu · June 2, 2020 · Comments are Disabled

Reading and Negotiating a Freelance Contract

Reading and Negotiating a Freelance Contract

Many science reporters either don’t know how to negotiate shrewdly or are afraid doing so could lead to lost opportunities. But not reading and negotiating on contracts can carry real costs. If freelance writing is your career, then honing your negotiating skills is a key to the craft. And that means understanding what terms like kill fees, indemnity clauses, and copyrights mean and how to negotiate for better contract terms.

by Shira Feder · May 26, 2020 · Comments are Disabled

Taylor Quimby

Taylor Quimby Burrows into Lyme Disease in the Podcast Patient Zero

When reporter Taylor Quimby delved into the confusing, complicated world of Lyme disease for his documentary podcast Patient Zero, he learned a lot about what tracing a disease looked like. The goal of Quimby’s seven-part miniseries was to explore Lyme and how the medical establishment handled it, while lending sound to what has often been called a “silent disease.” Quimby spoke to Shira Feder about how he gained sources’ trust, how he employed sound effects, and how he figured out how to tell the story of a complicated medical mystery in audio form.

by Shira Feder · May 19, 2020 · Comments are Disabled

Lane DeGregory

Lane DeGregory Follows a Family Waiting for a Medical Miracle

Tampa Bay Times reporter Lane DeGregory spent three years with a family as they waited for a medical miracle. DeGregory shares how she distilled 42 legal pads of reporting into “Lincoln’s Shot,” an eight-part series that is intimate yet comprehensive.

by Jennifer Lu · May 12, 2020 · Comments are Disabled

COVID-19 Reporting Diaries: March 25–31, 2020

COVID-19 Reporting Diaries: March 25–31, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused staggering loss of life and, over the course of just a few weeks, triggered an unprecedented global shutdown. The scale of the disaster and the astonishing pace of its […]

by Shira Feder · April 7, 2020 · 3 comments

So You Think You Can’t Draw? A Beginner’s Guide to Graphic Journalism

So You Think You Can’t Draw? A Beginner’s Guide to Graphic Journalism

Let’s say you want to dip your toes into graphic journalism but are worried because you think you can’t draw. Luckily, making graphic journalism isn’t so much a test of your drawing abilities as it is about making words and images work together. You can begin illustrating even without an art background. Here are some strategies for getting started.

by Jennifer Lu · February 18, 2020 · Comments are Disabled

Sarah Zhang

Sarah Zhang Explores the Fallout of a Fertility Doctor’s Secret

With the advent of direct-to-consumer genetic testing, an increasing number of people are learning that they were conceived using donor sperm. In rare cases, it turns out that their biological fathers are actually the doctors who offered fertility treatments to their parents. A situation like this involving an Indiana fertility doctor piqued The Atlantic reporter Sarah Zhang’s interest, leading her to track down his biological children. Her investigation reveals how much society’s attitude toward donor insemination has changed.

by Knvul Sheikh · November 5, 2019 · Comments are Disabled

Elizabeth Shogren

Elizabeth Shogren Uncovers Censorship of Science at the National Park Service

The National Park Service greenlighted a project studying the effects of climate change on coastal parks—then buried its results. Reporter Elizabeth Shogren, of Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, tells TON how she used public-records laws to pull back the curtain on scientific censorship by top Park Service officials.

by Jennifer Lu · October 1, 2019 · Comments are Disabled

What to Expect When You’re Expecting as a Freelancer

What to Expect When You’re Expecting as a Freelancer

Journalists who work for themselves and are planning on having a baby are on their own when it comes to budgeting for family leave, deciding when to disclose their plans to editors, and figuring out how much time they should take. But this also puts freelance reporters in a unique position to take advantage of all their job flexibility when transitioning into parenthood.

by Knvul Sheikh · August 27, 2019 · Comments are Disabled

How to Ask for Feedback from Editors

How to Ask for Feedback from Editors

Reporters regularly receive feedback in the form of line edits on story drafts. But broader input on one’s overarching writing quality can be tough to glean from editors. Getting this kind of big-picture assessment from editors can help journalists identify problematic patterns in their writing, understand how to craft their stories to better match a publication’s style, and set more ambitious goals for their next pieces. Here’s how to ask for broad feedback on your writing.

by Knvul Sheikh · July 9, 2019 · 2 comments

Nice Niche: How to Build and Keep Up with a Beat

Nice Niche: How to Build and Keep Up with a Beat

Many science writers today have a beat—a defined area of research that they cover, such as astronomy, energy, the environment, or health. The best beat reporters become the go-to writers in these fields, get scoops, and provide deep dives into new developments. Here’s a look at the tools they use to sort through the chaos and find newsworthy stories.

by Knvul Sheikh · June 4, 2019 · 1 comment

Journalists as Characters: Using First-Person Narration to Drive Stories

Journalists as Characters: Using First-Person Narration to Drive Stories

Science journalists often default to framing stories around the scientists whose work forms the backbone of our reporting. But first-person anecdotes allow journalists to connect with readers by lending authority and emotional authenticity to stories, building narrative tension, or lightening the tone of a piece. First-person can also be used to check personal biases and reveal conflicts of interest, avoid awkward phrasing, or breathe life into arcane concepts.

by Knvul Sheikh · April 30, 2019 · Comments are Disabled