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| Volume 49, Number 1, Spring 2000 |
by Kelli Witlock
For a writer new to the science beat, time with an experienced journalist or public information officer is an invaluable commodity. But how to put the two-novice and veteran-together? Enter the NASW Mentoring Program, created by Rick Borchelt five years ago.
Response to the program has been high each year, and the Washington, DC, effort was no exception. In all, 28 people signed up to be mentored, looking for advice, words of wisdom, and a chance to do a little networking. Thanks to volunteers from the NASW member rolls, we were able to accept all applicants, even though we had originally planned to limit the group to 25.
Feedback from participants has been positive and we'd like to share a few of their comments here. Of course, the best measure of a program's success is queries about future mentoring efforts: We've already received an application for 2001!
Sibylle Hechtel-Freelance
Lori Oliwenstein answered my questions. For months, I had written to strangers, asking questions about science writing. Finally, I had a successful journalist all to myself.
When Lori asked what I'd like to do, I said, "I've got a lot of questions." As a former lab scientist, I'd been to meetings as a scientist giving papers. But I had never taken a writing course (besides high-school English) or studied journalism.
Lori answered questions I'd had for months. She explained what journalists do and cleared up some misconceptions. We discussed the mechanics of working with editors and what to expect of editors (I'd never met one).
We discussed goal-setting and business plans. Lori showed me the pressroom and explained how it worked. At lunch, she introduced me to other writers, through whom I met more writers and editors. We schmoozed in the afternoon and at the reception.
Before this meeting, I was unsure of the logistics of a science writing career. Lori helped me clarify the direction to take and what goals were realistic over one year and which were more suited to a five-year plan.
Starting out freelance, with no formal training, I felt lost and confused about what direction to take. Now I'm more confident about what I'm doing. Since leaving DC, Lori has been kind enough to answer the occasional e-mail question. Now, although I still may not know what to do, I at least know where to go to find out.
Sibylle Hechtel is a freelancer out West, "in a cabin at 10,000 feet altitude, just below the national forest and the continental divide in Colorado." Lori Oliwenstein is a freelancer and science writer for University of Southern California Health Sciences.
Andrea Gibson-University Communications
As I recently had made the transition from general news reporter to assistant editor in Ohio University's Office of Research Communications, in September 1999, I looked forward to shadowing A'ndrea Messer, an experienced university public information officer, at the recent NASW/AAAS conference.
The morning of the mentoring program we attended a press conference, where I observed what materials she collected and provided to media as well as her assistance to a faculty member. We also sat through portions of two researchers' presentations to determine if the faculty members or news reporters would need her help.
Over lunch I talked with her at length about her educational background and professional experiences in science writing, including how she handled some challenging scenarios with the press. She advised me on how to improve my science knowledge base. Later that afternoon we spent time in the media room meeting reporters and other PIOs, which helped me to see how she successfully interacts with those on the receiving end of her news releases and institutional promotion efforts.
The experience was valuable because I could observe a professional science writer communicating with two important sets of colleagues-faculty who conduct the research and the media who report on it. With time to ask plenty of questions about the field, I was able to confirm some of the experiences I've had as a new science writer, as well as learn about situations I may encounter in the future.
Andrea Gibson is assistant editor of research communications for Ohio University. A'ndrea Messer is a science writer for Penn State University.
Catherine Zandonella-Student
I spent a terrific day with Carol Ezzell of Scientific American. We alternated between attending scientific sessions and talking about the science-writing field. At the scientific sessions and press conferences, Carol told me what she looks for in a scientist's talk. She is very knowledgeable about several scientific topics, so she was often able to pinpoint what was new in the talk. She also identified topics her magazine's readership might find interesting.
Carol and I also shared a long talk about how we each became interested in science writing. I found Carol to be very open and generous with both her time and her insights. As we walked through the conference hotel, she introduced me to everyone she knew (and she knows a lot of people!). She gave me advice on how to meet other professionals in the field, and urged me to not be shy in naming where my work has been published and what type of jobs I'll be interested in when I graduate in June 2000.
Catherine Zandonella is a student in the UC Santa Cruz Science Writing Program. Carol Ezzell is an editor at Scientific American.
Kelli Whitlock is director of research communications at
Ohio University. She co-chairs the NASW education committee together
with Mariette DiChristina, executive editor of Popular Science.
To learn more about the NASW Mentoring Program, e-mail mentor@nasw.org
or visit the program's home page at www.nasw.org/mentor.htm.