✍️Science Writing News Roundup #49 (June 20, 2021)

Fostering diversity: Inclusive mentoring of early career science writers

📣 News and articles

• Head of Independent Sage to launch international climate change group. Several of the world’s leading scientists plan to launch an independent expert group this week to advise, warn and criticize global policymakers about the climate and nature crises. The new group will issue monthly updates about the state of the global environment at meetings that will be open to the media and the public.

• Idea Grants help science writers reach diverse audiences and navigate mental health issues. Three projects aiming to empower science writers and communicators to more effectively reach diverse audiences and to express and manage pandemic-related mental health issues have been selected by NASW’s Grants Committee to receive Peggy Girshman Idea Grants.

• The causes of bad science reporting. “Various studies over the last decade or so have shown that journalists, while all too eager to participate, are often not the source of misreporting of science news. Much of it can be traced back to the press release, and even to study authors themselves,” writes Steven Novella, Founder and Executive Editor of Science-Based Medicine.

• First National Science, Health and Environmental Fellows selected. The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW), the Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ), and the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) have announced the selection of the inaugural class of the National Science-Health-Environment Reporting Fellowships.

📼 Video

• Fostering diversity: Inclusive mentoring of early career science writers.

👋 Resources and tips

• Nut graf and lead duos that point readers in the right direction. The inverted pyramid. The women's page. Unlike those throwbacks, the nut graf is a print convention that's aged well — and that digital stories need. It's a statement that reveals the point quickly and all at once, and tells the reader why they should care. Without it, stories can ramble and readers will wander. The nut graf and the lead are a package deal; if you need inspiration for effective pairings, read NPR Training's latest post.

• How journalists can overcome math anxiety. If you are a science journalist, there is no way of escaping math. For some, that's a comfortable partnership. For others, the prospect of dealing with mathematics — from simple equations to complex statistics — is a source of persistent anxiety. In this article for The Open Notebook, Tatiana Harkiolakis discusses strategies that journalists can use for overcoming math anxiety.

SciLine @RealSciLine

NEW RESOURCE for reporters: Get the basic science on vitamins and supplements, the state of evidence on their health benefits (or lack thereof), how they are regulated, and key takeaways for your coverage.

sciline.orgDietary supplement basics - SciLine

🎭 Opportunities

• Science communication competition: How can the development and use of new food processing technologies help the food industry meet the demands of the UN’s sustainable development goals? This competition is open to students studying at a UK university or an IFST accredited course.

Juliet M. Beverly @julietmbeverly

Tell us a story. We're looking for pitches on the brain and nervous system. Here are a few tips before you submit your ideas to BrainFacts:

brainfacts.orgHow to Pitch to BrainFacts.orgA guide for freelance science writers to sucessfully pitch BrainFacts.org

Alex Orlando @Alex_E_Orlando

Science journos, calling for pitches! 🧵 I edit Discover's much-loved Vital Signs column, where we take readers through the twists and turns of tricky patient cases. They're usually written by doctors, but recently we've expanded that to include stories from science writers.

Earth Journalism Network @earthjournalism

The second round of our story grants on fisheries subsidies is now open for applications! We're accepting pitches from around the world on subsidies & their links to overfishing, plus the policy reforms that might be on the horizon. Apply by July 13:

earthjournalism.netFisheries Subsidies Story Grants, Round 2Grants will support the production of in-depth stories about fisheries subsidies issues.

Holly Young @holly_young88

Freelancers! 📣We are looking for environment pitches at @dw_environment from anywhere in the world. Get in touch through our pitching form here docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…… #journojobs

docs.google.comPITCHING TO DW - GLOBAL IDEASWe are looking for deeply reported, compelling features on the environment and climate change from around the world. We like stories that shed light on creative and effective solutions, give a voice to the marginalized, show how policies are playing out on the ground and matter to people’s lives, or…

John "My Middle Initial Isn't F." Kennedy @JBKnotJFK

Hello! @PopSciDIY needs more freelancers. If you think you've got some good ideas that will improve @PopSci's readers' lives or teach them something new, please feel free to pitch me. Even the smallest, seemingly stupidest solutions to everyday problems are fair game.

CASW @ScienceWriting

Just two weeks left to submit an entry for the #ClarkPayneAward for young science journalists! The deadline is JUNE 30. @ScienceWriters casw.org/casw/evert-cla…

Sister @sisterSTEM

New call for pitches! Thanks to a Peggy Girshman Idea Grant from @ScienceWriters, we are commissioning professionals in #ScienceWriting and #SciComm to write about #Gatekeeping in STEM. Learn more and submit a pitch by June 30: sisterstem.org/write/

Climate Tracker @ClimateTracking

🎉 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 🎉 😊Grassroots local solutions are critical for successful system change. Be one of the 4 amazing young writers to join our PAID media fellowship, covering sustainability challenges & opportunities! 😊APPLY👉🏽 bit.ly/ct-solutions-w…

bit.lyOpportunity: Solutions Stories Journalism FellowshipClimate Solutions are what we’re about in this journalism fellowship! Be a part of this 6-month paid media mentorship-fellowship combo!

📺 Events

• Global to Local: Warming Stripes and Realtime Climate (June 21, 2021)

• Misinformation or censorship: science reporting and social media (June 22, 2021)

• Online SciComm Coworking Session (June 22, 2021)

• Future of Science Communication Conference (June 24-25, 2021)

• How to Write Popular Science Books (June 26, 2021)

📚 Jobs and internships

• Newsperson, Medicine and Science, Associated Press, US-based

• C&EN Business Reporter, American Chemical Society, US-based

• Senior Editorial Assistant, American Cancer Society, US-based

• Managing Editor, GEN Biotechnology, US-based

• Science Writer, CNET, Remote

• Cancer Reporter, STAT, Boston, MA

• Editorial Director, Science & Recode, Vox Media, New York, NY or Washington, DC

• Associate Editor, The Optical Society, Washington, DC

• More jobs 👉Science Writing News Roundup #48

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Top image: Stockholm Public Library. Credit: Alexandre Van Thuan