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Desk Notes
News from the National Association of Science Writers
September 15, 2021 – Vol. 3, No. 8

ScienceWriters2021 is going virtual

Owing to the continuing risks and uncertainties posed by the coronavirus pandemic, NASW and the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW) are transitioning ScienceWriters2021 to a virtual-only event. Preview our newly updated program and register by September 30.

Apply for a spot at the NASW Pitch Slam! #SciWri21 attendees will have the chance to pitch a panel of editors during our Pitch Slam session on Monday, October 4. We are taking a limited number of pre-selected pitchers. Apply here by September 20. We will also be taking pitchers on a first-come-first-served basis during the event, as time allows.

NASW supports global science journalism through Spark Grant Initiative

Science journalism across the globe will get a boost through a grant program launched by the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) with funding from NASW and four other science writing associations. Special consideration will be given to proposals that support science journalism in under-resourced regions, strengthen the cooperation between science journalists’ communities in different countries, or are designed as demonstration projects that others might emulate.

LEARN MORE

Apply for a Diversity Reporting Grant

NASW’s Diversity Committee is once again offering up to five Diversity Reporting Grants of $1,000 each. Freelancers are invited to submit strong, high-impact story proposals that will focus on how a science- or health-related issue is affecting marginalized communities.

APPLY BY SEPTEMBER 30

Join the Grants Committee

Every year, NASW’s Grants Committee awards thousands of dollars to science writers through the Peggy Girshman Idea Grant program. It’s thrilling work that involves hearing about ambitious ideas, debating the merits of various proposals, and ultimately coming together to support efforts that will shape the field in positive ways. The committee is seeking two new volunteers to join five returning members as it begins the annual award cycle.

LEND A HAND

Meet a new member

Ernie Mastroianni, a retired science writer/photo editor and a new addition to the NASW community, shares #WhySciWri in this short Q&A.

MEET ERNIE

Read SciWri magazine

NASW volunteers, members, and regional science writing groups have stayed busy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Take a look back in the latest issue of ScienceWriters magazine.

DIVE IN!

Science journalists are rarely taught how to evaluate qualitative papers, but such research can be fascinating and worthy of coverage. Read more in The Open Notebook.

Decolonising journalism: what does it mean, why does it matter and where do you start? Read more at Journalism.co.uk.

Find your community

Our member-run #SciWriThrive and #SciWriCoffee virtual events continue to offer opportunities for networking and support.

JOIN US

Advance Copy

“There will be more COVIDs,” Carl Zimmer warns in A Planet of Viruses. Read how the book moved from idea to reality to 3rd edition in Advance Copy, a column by Lynne Lamberg.

GET THE BACKSTORY

In community journalism, trauma comes with the territory but mental health resources often do not. Read more at Poynter.org.

"I’m a science storyteller. Before COVID misinformation, I used to know why," writes member Kristen M. Kusek in this column in the Tampa Bay Times.

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Desk Notes Newsletter, September 15, 2021