✍️Science Writing News Roundup #101 (June 9, 2022)
Science must overcome its racist legacy + Tips to reduce cognitive biases + Writing workshop for journalists of color
Science must overcome its racist legacy: Nature invited guest editors to advise on the production of a series of special issues on racism in science, the first of which is due to be published later this year. (Clockwise from top left: Chad Womack, Elizabeth Wathuti, Ambroise Wonkam and Melissa Nobles. Credit: Bottom left: Gretchen Ertl; bottom right: University of Cape Town, via Nature)
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🧰Resources
Tips to reduce cognitive biases + Course: online writing and content marketing + How to report on mental health and take care of yourself + Data visualization tools [Bonus content for monthly supporters]
New baby formula shortage tip sheet spotlights health and economic disparities.
7 things journalists should know about guns: The Journalist’s Resource teamed up with two reporters who know a lot about firearms to create a tip sheet that briefs journalists on basic terminology and warns them about some of the pitfalls of covering gun issues.
Power of Diverse Voices: Writing Workshop for Journalists of Color. With the support of expert instructors and fellow journalists of color, develop the confidence and skills to share your unique perspective in persuasive writing.
🛤️Videos
Interconnected: Reporting the Climate Crisis | 2022 Annual Conference
The Johns Hopkins University MA in Science Writing graduates celebrate the completion of their program through the Thesis Reading.
Environmental Journalism and Running a Climate-Focused Media Outlet
🔖Opportunities
Calls for pitches: Write about biomedicine, health, environment, climate, science in general [Bonus content for monthly supporters]
Climate Grant 2022 call for applications. The purpose of this grant is to encourage ambitious field investigations focused on understanding of the climate, adaptation to climate change, and different mitigation strategies. Apply by June 17.
Climate Change Media Partnership 2022 Reporting Fellowships to COP27. This year, the CCMP Reporting Fellowship aims to bring up to 22 journalists from low- and middle-income countries to report in-person at COP27.
Call for proposals - Science Journalism Forum 2022. The Science Journalism Forum 2022 is coming back with its 3rd edition from 29 October to 4th November 2022.
The European Geosciences Union (EGU) is accepting applications for the 11th edition of its Science Journalism Fellowship competition. The fellowships enable journalists to report, in any European language, on ongoing research in the Earth, planetary or space sciences. Apply by June 17.
🔬Articles
A year at Sharon Begley’s desk. As the inaugural Sharon Begley-STAT Fellow, Isabella Cueto found herself surrounded by physical reminders of the trailblazing reporter who gave the fellowship its name.
Roundtable: Keeping pace with pandemic coverage in the U.S. Katherine J. Wu leads a fascinating roundtable discussion with six other science reporters to reflect on “how they’ve continued to capture readers’ attention through pandemic fatigue, and how they’ve found new angles and sources on a topic that has dominated the news cycle in this country for months on end.”
Public misinformation and science communication in times of public health crises. What limitations has the pandemic exposed in the ways that science is communicated today?
How storytelling can motivate us to help others. A study finds that personal stories – instead of cold facts – make people want to help keep others safe.
Award-winning journalist explains how to build meaningful connections with sources.
⛳️News
The Guardian view on an Amazon disappearance: find Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira. A British journalist and Brazilian Indigenous advocate have vanished. The authorities must scale up a lacklustre response.
Three rising science writers receive 2022 NASW Diversity Summer Fellowships: Congratulations to Jason Dinh, Krystal Vasquez, and Myriam Vidal Valero!
Palm tree story wins in SciDev.Net journalism awards. A story about a farmer in Algeria who invented a device which can water his palm trees automatically has won the ‘News Article of the Year’ in the annual SciDev.Net journalism awards.
Script grad wins science journalism award: A graduate of the Script Science Communication Skills for Journalists online course is among the winners of this year’s SciDev.Net Journalism Awards.
Association of British Science Writers members are 60% freelancers (but at least 18% are editors)
⚙️Events
How to get started as a science writer - an insider's guide (June 14, 2022)
Interview opportunity available with Dr. Silvia Secchi on harmful algal blooms (June 15, 2022)
Writing at the Reef: Where art meets science (June 16, 2022)
Learn how to protect yourself from doxing (the publishing of private personal information, like your home address or cell phone, without your consent) (June 16, 2022)
The 2022 Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons (June 20, 2022)
🧫Jobs and internships
To see 20 science writing jobs and internships, please click here to become a monthly supporter.
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