✍️Science Writing News Roundup #44 (May 16, 2021)

How to tackle science disinformation + What we learned about science journalism in the year of Covid-19

The World Federation of Science Journalists wants to help science, technology, health, environment, and engineering journalists to learn and share new skills. To this end, they’re compiling a list of courses and training opportunities offered in different formats, at different levels, and in different languages. If you are involved with teaching or organizing a course — or even if you’ve taken one yourself that you thought was worthwhile — they’d like to hear from you.

🌷 Resources

• Looking for new data tools and tips to investigate climate change? Here are some great ways to strengthen reporting on sea level rise, measure coastal sea temperatures, model future flooding, track hurricane damage, and customize climate data from around the world.

Project QUEST @quest_eu

Big news: our toolkits are now available! The new resources for #scientists, #journalists, #museums and #SocialMedia include guides, checklists, presentations and other tools for #SciComm. ➡️ Read more: questproject.eu/announcing-the… 🔧 Explore the toolkits: questproject.eu/toolkits/

🔭 Opportunities

Amanda Heidt @Scatter_Cushion

Good morning #science #freelancers! We're building out our freelance base at @TheScientistLLC, covering cell & molec bio, neuroscience, immunology, medicine, ecology & env, etc. Reach out (DM or aheidt@the-scientist.com). I freelanced before so happy to answer Qs. #Journalists

Kenny Torrella @kennytorrella

Are you a freelance writer and looking to pitch a story idea to @voxdotcom? Check out our new "How to Pitch" page, including a section on what we're looking for in our coverage about factory farming, animal welfare, and the future of meat:

vox.comHow to pitch VoxHave a story idea? Read our pitching guidelines and get in touch with our editors.

Lady Science @ladyxscience

🚨We're open for pitches again!🚨 We're looking for features, essays, commentary, and reviews--and that means we are looking for YOUR pitches. We pay $150. Make sure to read our pitch page to know what we are--and are not--looking for in a pitch. ladyscience.com/pitch

ladyscience.comLady Science - Pitch Us — Lady Science

📚 Articles

• Fat Chance: Writing about Probability. There’s no single, straightforward way to write about probability. The very concept can be ambiguous and tricky. But strategies like using analogies, creating visuals, and making careful use of language can help to convey just what a 15 percent chance of an extreme weather event, or an 80 percent chance of recovering from a disease, really means, according to Grace Huckins.

Alexandra Witze @alexwitze

How to fight fake news: my latest for @ScienceNews is part of a misinformation special for the magazine

sciencenews.orgHow to detect, resist and counter the flood of fake newsMisinformation about health is drowning out the facts and putting us at risk. Researchers are learning why bad information spreads and how to protect yourself.

The Science Literacy Foundation @sci_project

🗨️ Science disinformation is dangerous to democratic governance and society at large. A new @ALLEA_academies report highlights the need for initiatives to raise #ScienceLiteracy. 📚 #ScienceTwitter #scicomm 👉 ow.ly/A2xn50EI26K

Cristiana Bedei @critalks

Pitching story ideas is often a thankless task. If you're feeling exhausted, lacking motivation or ideas, I've asked journalists @SianySianySiany, @CarolineHarrap, and psychologist Angela Carter for helpful tips ijnet.org/en/story/what-… on @IJNet

ijnet.orgWhat to do when pitching articles takes a tollFreelancing as a journalist can look different, but it usually includes a lot of pitching story ideas — an unpaid and often thankless task that requires focus and work for little reward.

🎬 Videos

• From the Cosmos to COVID-19, A Career in Science Journalism. As a New York Times science journalist, Nicholas St. Fleur has covered the cosmos, dinosaurs, evolution and humanity's ancient past. In this video, he speaks about his work at STAT News reporting on health disparities — especially with the pandemic and the vaccine rollout. He also talks about how to transition from the lab to journalism and gives reporting tips and storytelling advice.

• “What we learned about science journalism in the year of Covid-19” with Deborah Blum, director of the Knight Science Journalism program at MIT.

• Science Writing for the Public: Q&A with Kate Wong. Kate Wong is Senior Editor at Scientific American, where she oversees the magazine’s coverage of non-medical biology. She commissions and edits articles from scientists about their own research, and she writes about evolution and ecology.

• Science Communication Panel Discussion: Live panel discussion on the topic of science communication, featuring Nancy Averett, John Lynch, and Dean Regas. This session is a part of the Workshop on Public Engagement with Science and Philosophy of Science, hosted by the UC Center for Public Engagement with Science.

• In "The Art of Communicating Science," long-time journalist, educator and nonprofit leader Elissa Yancey discusses the current state of public trust in scientific research as well as how scientists can use the power of story to bring their research and findings to life.

📅 Events

• The Art of Evidence: Reaching General Audiences (May 18, 2021)

• How to Analyze Research Data (May 18, 2021)

• Covering Climate and the Environment, Science Editing Webinar Series (May 20, 2021)

• SoCal Science Writing Presents a Workshop: The Art of the Science Assay (May 20, 2021)

• Making Science and Nature Stories Your Business (May 20, 2021)

• Online SciComm Coworking Session (May 20, 2021)

• The Golden Age of Science Video (May 25, 2021)

• Science Writers and Communicators of Canada 2021 Virtual Conference (June 7-17, 2021)

💡 Jobs and internships

• Freelance Writer: Untitled Biology Show, Remote, US-based

• Space News Writer, Inverse, Remote

• Science Communications Associate, Biobot, Boston or New York

• Digital Content Assistant, Orinoco Communications, Remote, UK-based

• Communications Officer, Royal Meteorological Society, Remote

• Internship: Science Writer, The American Institute of Physics, College Park, MD

• More jobs 👉Science Writing News Roundup #43

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic

WE'RE HIRING! Hey friends, we have some early-career roles coming up on Silicon Republic’s editorial team. Great opportunity for recent graduates in journalism or science communications. Experience desirable, but a passion for STEM a must. #jobfairy

siliconrepublic.comJobs at Silicon Republic | Silicon RepublicJobs in journalism and media: Come work with Silicon Republic, a leading science and technology news website for 20 years.

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Note: Image by StartupStockPhotos from Pixabay