Tip Sheet for Newcomers to Science Writing

Metadata

• Author: Shira Feder
• Full Title: Tip Sheet for Newcomers to Science Writing
• Type: #snippet✂️
• Document Tags: #sci_comms
• URL: https://www.theopennotebook.com/2021/04/13/a-getting-started-guide-for-newcomers-to-science-writing-2/

Highlights

• Explore the elements of science and story.
  If you appreciate a good story and are curious about the world around you, you’ve already got a solid foundation. A stellar science writer starts with curiosity about science and an interest in the craft of journalism. (View Highlight)
• 3. Immerse yourself in the science. (View Highlight)
• Regularly read several major science publications aimed at the public so you can watch which stories they cover and which ones they skip. Look for trends, such as several stories about a certain type of disease or studies on a similar subject. When you come across topics you’re interested in, consider what possible angles you could approach them from to turn them into fully developed stories. (View Highlight)
• Do your homework.
  If you don’t understand a technical study the first time you read it, that’s okay. In many cases, neither do most people who aren’t experts in that specific field. Read the study again (and maybe again!), and then roll up your sleeves to really dig in. Search technical terms and make a list of people to call. Email one or more of the study authors to request an interview. But don’t stop there—also line up conversations with scientists who have relevant expertise and who weren’t involved in the study to get their independent assessment of the research and its implications. And whenever you can, talk to your sources in person or on the phone. Their answers will be less scripted and will allow all-important follow-ups in the moment. (View Highlight)
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions that feel silly.
  If you don’t understand something, it’s likely the general public won’t either. Getting scientists to explain their work in lay-friendly terms is the key here. Let your curiosity guide the conversation, and speak up if you’re confused about something. By showing interest in the ins and outs of a scientist’s research, you can guide the conversation in a more natural direction and get more information about how the research came to be. (View Highlight)
• Maintain skepticism.
  Approach press releases, corporate white papers, and other communications that merge science and marketing with caution. Read the entire scientific paper you’re writing about, never just the associated news release. Be aware of any conflicts of interest that should give readers pause. Apply critical thinking to statistical claims, as well as how a study was designed and analyzed. How many participants were part of the research, and was it a representative sample? Are researchers truly pinpointing a causal relationship between two phenomena, or are they merely showing a correlation? Did the researchers choose meaningful endpoints to examine, and did they stick to those or did they change course along the way? When in doubt, track down a statistician or other outside expert for help. (View Highlight)
• Interview people whose lived experiences can breathe life into your stories.
  Health, environmental, and science reporting often tackles subjects that have huge social ramifications. To tell accurate and well-rounded stories, don’t rely solely on scientific experts—also look to people who are affected by the issue you’re covering. (View Highlight)
• Write simply and clearly.
  Be attuned to your readers. They’re reading for pleasure, or to learn something. That means your sentences should be succinct and free of jargon. Your stories should use metaphors and analogies to explain complex terms and concepts, and they should have a logical, easy-to-follow flow. A good way to establish this flow is by asking yourself the natural questions readers are likely to think of as they read. (One trick: Write these questions out and use them as provisional subheadings in your story, removing or replacing them when you’re self-editing. Make sure to build in transitions that help guide readers from one idea to another.) (View Highlight)