NASW Members: Set your sights on Austin . . . and other news about activities your board is working on.
ScienceWriters 2009 Registration Alert . . .
Registration for ScienceWriters 2009 opens on August 3. Be sure to register before September 1 for the early bird rate of $150 for NASW's workshops. All registration closes on October 1. The meeting itself — in Austin — is Oct. 16-20.
. . . And Travel Fellowships to Help Get You There (deadlines included)
Three types of travel fellowships are available to help offset the cost of attendance.
Eligibility: Open to NASW members who are freelance writers
Description: Provides up to $900 to cover the costs of attending ScienceWriters 2009. These fellowships are supported by the Authors Coalition of America funds. Note: Before receiving reimbursement, fellows must submit a short report of one or more aspects of the workshops, suitable for publication on the NASW Web site and potentially in ScienceWriters. Assignments will be made prior to the meeting and must be filed within 48 hours after the assigned session. More information will be available after grants are awarded. Send a short (less than 500 words) statement of interest and a copy of your CV to Tinsley Davis, director@nasw.org.
Application deadline: Friday, Aug. 14, 2009
Eligibility: Open to current NASW student members enrolled in a science writing program
Description: Provides up to $900 to cover the costs of attending ScienceWriters 2009. These fellowships are supported by the Authors Coalition of America funds. Note: Before receiving reimbursement, fellows must submit a short report of one or more aspects of the workshops, suitable for publication on the NASW Web site and potentially in ScienceWriters. Assignments will be made prior to the meeting and must be filed within 48 hours after the assigned session. More information will be available after grants are awarded. To apply: Send a short (less than 500 words) statement of interest and a copy of your CV to Tinsley Davis, director@nasw.org.
Application deadline: Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
Eligibility: The fellowships are intended primarily for journalists from publications and broadcast outlets that do not routinely cover major science meetings or employ a full-time science writer as well as select freelancers
Description: The fellowships offer up to $1,200 to cover the costs of attending ScienceWriters 2009.
To apply: Submit three collated sets containing each of the following: 1) a brief (no more than 500-word) expression of interest; 2) a resume (with home and office telephone numbers); 3) no more than 3 clips or broadcast transcripts (on any topic); 4) a nominating letter from a senior editor, news director or producer. Mail submissions to: CASW New Horizons Fellowships, P.O. Box 910, Hedgesville, WV 25427
Application deadline: Friday, Aug. 14, 2009
Another Deadline: Victor Cohn Prize
You've got until July 31 to apply for the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing's Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Reporting. The award, established in 2000, is given annually to honor a writer for a body of work published or broadcast within the last five years which, for reasons of uncommon clarity, accuracy, breadth of coverage, enterprise, originality, insight and narrative power, has made a profound and lasting contribution to public awareness and understanding of critical advances in medical science and their impact on human health and well-being.
NASW and the World
As previously seen on Announce, the NASW, thanks in significant measure to the efforts of Deborah Blum, is co-sponsoring the next World Conference of Science Journalists, scheduled for Cairo in 2011. Our partner is The Arab Science Writers Association, which is hosting the event. Deborah is the program chair. Stay tuned for opportunities to participate in planning what is certain to be groundbreaking meeting.
Resources for Hard Times
A number of groups provide interest free loans or outright grants to professional writers facing severe and extraordinary financial difficulties. These programs are confidential and generally do not require membership in any particular association or society. Beryl Benderly points out that you can find information about them newly posted on the open section of our "All About Freelancing" site.
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