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Emma Reh (1896-1982) was a science journalist for Science Service in the 1920s and 30s. Here she is reporting on an archaeological site in Oaxaca for Science News.
Journalism
Areas
Genres
Social impact
News media
Roles

Introduction

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Science journalism is a specialty devoted to conveying information about new developments in science to the public, through newspapers, magazines, television or radio programs, blogs, websites, podcasts, or other media. The field typically involves conveying information about new research by scientists, gathered and written or otherwise communicated by journalists, for the benefit of the public.

History

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Science writers' organizations

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(work in progress, suggestions welcome. -- DLC (talk) 01:41, 8 May 2012 (UTC)) [reply]


For more than 75 years, science journalists have been forming organizations both in the United States and around the world, to share information and resources and, as the National Association of Science Writers (NASW) says on its website, "to improve their craft and encourage conditions that promote good science writing."[1]

The NASW is one of the oldest and largest such organizations, formed in 1934 by a group of science journalists in New York. It now claims 2,150 members plus more than 200 student members. In addition to science journalists, its membership also includes those working in science public relations and science journalism education. Among other nationwide organizations, there are also some devoted to specific areas, such as the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA), with over 5,000 members[2], and the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ), with about 1,500 members[3].

In the United States, there are several regional organizations of science journalists. Among the more active are the D.C. Science Writers Association (DCSWA), the New England Science Writers (NESW), the Northwest Science Writers Association (NSWA), the Northern California Science Writers Association (NCSWA), and the Science Writers in New York (SWINY).

Around the world, there are regional groups such as the African Federation of Science Writers and the Arab Science Journalists association, and at least three dozen national organizations, including the Association of British Science Writers, and groups in China, Canada, France, Japan, Germany, Italy, Nigeria, and Australia, among the many. [4]

Internationally, the International Science Writers' Association [5], formed in 1967, is the oldest, and claims members in 26 countries. There is also an umbrella organization (an "association of associations"), the World Federation of Science Journalists [6], which represents 40 national, international and regional organizations around the world.

Major annual prizes and award programs

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(Blurb about general prizes that contain science-y winners -- Pulitzers for newspaper, magazine, tv & radio, online -- and explain these are science specific)

  • The Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting honors a writer for "a body of work published or broadcast within the last five years which ... has made a profound and lasting contribution to public awareness and understanding of critical advances in medical science and their impact on human health and well-being."
  • The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Kavli Science Journalism Awards recognize outstanding reporting for a general audience and honor individuals (rather than institutions, publishers or employers) for their coverage of the sciences, engineering and mathematics and for fostering a better understanding of science by the public. Stories must be published within the United States and by a U.S. media outlet.
  • Professional scientists, bloggers and student journalists based in the UK or the Republic of Ireland -- but not professional journalists and authors who write for money -- are eligible for the Wellcome Trust Science Writing Prize, which looks for pieces that encourage the general public to consider, question and debate the key issues in science and society.

Sundeblue (talk) 23:58, 10 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

DLC-- I will work on a draft of this section.

Science writing degree programs and fellowships

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Commentary and analysis about science writing

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(Knight tracker, Science Writers, any other blogs or mags?)

Criticism of the field

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Role of science journalism

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role in society

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role in science

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  • mandates or suggestions from granting agencies (explicit from NSF; suggested from NIH)
  • studies that show impact in science citations, etc. (Phillips, USCD)

The embargo system

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(distinctive and somewhat problematic in the context of journalism)(but, is this too inside-baseball for a general encyclopedia entry? -- DC)

Notable science-journalism media

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  • science magazines
  • newspaper science sections

broadcast

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TV and radio programs, podcasts

blogs

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Notable science journalists

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([1])


See also

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References

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  1. ^ NASW web page "about NASW Inc."
  2. ^ AMWA website main page
  3. ^ SEJ website, retrieved May 2012
  4. ^ World Federation of Science Journalists, list of world associations, retrieved May 2012
  5. ^ ISWA home page, retrieved May 2012
  6. ^ WFSJ "about" web page, retrieved May 2012

Books

  • Blum, Deborah & Knudson, Mary (editors) (1997) A Field Guide for Science Writers, Oxford University Press ISBN 9780195100686
  • Blum, Deborah, Knudson, Mary, & Henig, Robin Marantz (editors) (2006) A Field Guide for Science Writers, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press ISBN 9780195174991
  • Cohn, Victor (1989) News & Numbers, Iowa State University Press ISBN 9780813814377
  • Crossen, Cynthia (1994) Tainted Truth: Manipulation of Fact in America, Simon & Schuster ISBN 9780671792855
  • Dean, Cornelia (2009) Am I Making Myself Clear? A scientist's guide to talking to the public, Harvard University Press ISBN 9780674036352
  • Friedman, Sharon M., Dunwoody, Sharon, Rogers, Carol L. (editors) (1999) Communicating Uncertainty: Media Coverage of New and Controversial Science, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates ISBN 9780805827286
  • Kiernan, Vincent (2006) Embargoed Science, University of Illinois Press ISBN 9780252030970
  • Lieberman, Trudy (2000) Slanting the Story: The Forces That Shape the News, The New Press ISBN 9781565845770
  • Nelkin, Dorothy (1995) Selling Science: How the Press Covers Science and Technology, revised edition, W.H. Freeman & Co. ISBN 9780716725954

U.S. science-related journalism organizations

Science journalism Web sites & Blogs


Sundeblue (talk) 16:32, 7 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

(Below are some references that had been suggested by Pete Tillman on the original entry's talk page. Please go ahead and add any other suggested references. DLC)

Can Journalists Better Capture the Nuances of Climate Science? by Keith Kloor

Time for change in science journalism? by John Rennie

Science: A New Mission to Explain, by David Whitehouse

Judith Curry's blog


DLC (talk) 15:58, 7 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

(additional references from Dan Vergano)

Improving Reporting on Science and Public Policy by Christine Russell ] - a 2006 survey of the decline in employment/sections in the field since 1990 - Dan Vergano (talk) 04:07, 8 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

DLC (talk) 16:58, 9 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

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