I once did part of a workshop on "Communicating University Research" for college and university PIOs and media relations people. The first thing I did was give a pop quiz. I asked three basic questions: (1) name a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes articles about science communication, (2) name a researcher who writes about communication issues in science and technology, and (3) describe a recent article you read about research in science communication or science journalism. The class failed — miserably.
Jan. 4, 2009NASW news
NASW, the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing, Society of Environmental Journalists and World Federation of Science Journalists express strong concern over CNN's shortsighted decision to cut its science, technology and environment unit in a letter to the network.
Dec. 22, 2008The membership meeting was convened on Oct. 25, 2008, as part of the NASW workshop, in Palo Alto, Calif. Approximately 80 people attended. President Robert Lee Hotz called the meeting to order at 8:50 a.m. and reminded everyone that the information being discussed — and more — is available on the NASW website. He praised complete transparency in communication and requested that members recommend to officers and the board additional ways to achieve this goal.
Dec. 14, 2008Last July, amid tapas and cocktails at a Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) conference mixer in Barcelona, I was served something far less appetizing: the news that for five days, unbeknownst to me, a radio frequency identification device (RFID) hidden in my name tag had been reporting my conference attendance habits to organizers. Ditto for the rest of the conference's nearly 5,000 participants, many of whom were science journalists.
Dec. 7, 2008Congratulations to Richard Robinson, this year's winner of the Diane McGurgan Service Award. Richard, currently chair of NASW's actively engaged freelance committee, embodies the enthusiasm and spirit of the McGurgan Award. A member since 1996, Richard has contributed steadfastly to the listservs, shepherded the development of the Words' Worth compensation database, and has lobbied tirelessly on behalf of his fellow freelancers.
Nov. 20, 2008Convened at 5:41 p.m. by Robert Lee Hotz, president, who started by saying: "I'm not one to bury the lede." He then announced that Diane McGurgan will be retiring in June 2009 and called it a "sad but wonderful moment." He talked of Diane as "the heart, the soul, the memory, the sharp tongue and the all-embracing warm hug of this organization."
Oct. 11, 2008