Updates on plans for NASW's Authors Coalition funds and a panel on science writing for the Asian American Journalists Association in the Twin Cities Aug. 17-20.
More news over the Internet from NASW! Submit items to Mariette DiChristina, NASW secretary.
LAST CHANCE
The membership dues deadline has passed for inclusion in the roster. I must receive dues by June 1, or you will be DROPPED from membership. No Web privileges, no "nothing." You have been WARNED.
— Diane McGurgan, executive director
AUTHOR'S COALITION UPDATE
We are moving ahead in spending $47,080 in Authors Coalition funds granted to us for work that will help NASW writers who own the copyrights to their materials. That money will be used to:
- complete the market-rate database (to go online with our forthcoming redesigned Web site)
- provide fellowships for our October annual conference
- write relevant articles, FAQs, and provide other commentary that will appear in ScienceWriters and/or on our Web site
— Laura van Dam, NASW president
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Linda Wang has organized a panel on science writing for the Asian American Journalists Association in the Twin Cities from August 17-20. We have three speakers: Ken Chang from the New York Times; Charles Choi, freelance extraordinaire; and Lewis Cope, veteran reporter, coauthor of News & Numbers and a former president of NASW. Corinna Wu has agreed to be moderator, and Dinesh Ramde has agreed to step in if needed. Several people have e-mailed me and offered their generous help: Ginger Pinholster from AAAS, Colleen Sauber from NASW, Barbara Gastel from Texas A&M, and Kathy Hoskins from the Council of Science Editors. These folks will be providing resource materials to hand out at the workshop (in addition to stuff Linda's putting together), and Colleen (who lives in Minnesota) has graciously agreed to be the contact person for these materials and run them over on the day of the workshop. Kudos to them. The panel will target both budding science journalists as well as general news reporters who want to improve their coverage of science. Here's the description:
Ten Tips to Better Science Reporting
Presented by the National Association of Science Writers
Science and medicine are all over the news, from baseball's steroid scandals to the final days of the Pope. Even glossy women's magazines devote a section to health. But you don't have to be a science writer to cover the topic well. Our panel of top science writers explains how keeping an eye on trends in science and medicine can improve your coverage of any beat. They'll offer tips for handling statistics and other potential pitfalls, and also discuss careers in science writing.
— Nancy Shute, co-chair
INTERNET COMMITTEE
The RFP for the Web site redesign will be out in the next couple of weeks. Cybrarian Russell Clemings is working with NICAR to establish coding support for the Web site's infrastructure. And Russell will soon be posting the updated NASW Bookstore. Thank you, Russ!
— Kelli Whitlock Burton and Mariette DiChristina, co-chairs
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