“In our profession, information is currency,” says freelance science journalist Nadia Drake, introducing a small crowd of participants to a media law workshop at the NASW annual meeting in Columbus, OH. “It's what we trade in, whether you're a freelancer, staff writer, PIO, or scientist, and there are laws governing how you can get some of that information.”
Oct. 20, 2014NASW news
For early career science writers, scoring a byline in a national science magazine can be a daunting prospect. One solution: start small.
Oct. 20, 2014So you have this great idea. You’ve looked into every corner of the Internet and no one else has done it. You can’t get the idea out of your head, but how do you make it pay? You have a passion project! “It’s important to find time to do projects that are important to you but that you aren’t sure are going to pay off,” said Brooke Borel, who moderated the session “Making passion projects happen” at the ScienceWriters2014 meeting in Columbus, Ohio. Borel was the first of five science writers who shared their experiences to a packed room. The speakers’ stories were as varied as their projects.
Oct. 19, 2014The National Association of Science Writers honored some of the year’s best science writing at its annual ScienceWriters Awards Night gala Oct. 18 at the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, OH. The Science in Society Journalism Awards, sponsored by the National Association of Science Writers, honored journalists in five categories: book, science reporting, long form, science reporting for a local or regional market, and commentary and opinion.
Oct. 19, 2014Starting a blog for a university or institution requires convincing the higher-ups and sometimes breaking away from the serious tone that is common among research publications. “Don’t think of it as a blog. Think of it as a really light, lean, and flexible web platform. When you pitch it, call it a really cheap way to disseminate information,” said Carol Clark, senior science communicator at Emory University and a panelist for Saturday’s session titled, “Blogging for institutions.”
Oct. 19, 2014A freelance writer wears many hats. There’s the writer hat, of course, but also accountant, marketer, strategist, and even social media consultant. As a freelancer, in other words, you’re both a lowly worker and CEO, accountable to no one but yourself.
Oct. 19, 2014After a good night’s rest following Friday’s conference kick-off, science writers from across the country gathered at the NASW business meeting Saturday morning for updates on the work the committees have been doing over the past year and their visions for the future.
Oct. 19, 2014New York Times reporter Elisabeth Rosenthal, a physician and newspaper correspondent for 20 years, is the recipient of the 2014 Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting. Rosenthal will receive a $3,000 award and certificate at a ceremony in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, October 18, to be held during ScienceWriters2014, a meeting jointly organized by CASW and the National Association of Science Writers (NASW).
Sep. 16, 2014