A Tactical Guide to Science Journalism brings together award-winning journalists from around the world to share fascinating tales of science and how it works and to provide guidance into reporting specialties like infectious disease, climate change, astronomy, public health, physics, and statistics. From practical advice on finding sources and distilling complex research subjects for a general audience, to tips on how to cover science in authoritarian regimes, the book serves as an essential survey of the best in science reporting today--and a testament to the importance of independent journalistic inquiry in understanding research and building trust with audiences. Drawing insights from writers based at publications including The New York Times, the BBC, The Washington Post, Science, The New Yorker, National Geographic and more, this guide is designed to help journalists everywhere improve their craft and serve as a valuable resource for those seeking to understand the profession at its best.
Edited by:
Deborah Blum (Director Knight Science Journalism Program Director Knight Science Journalism Program MIT),
Ashley Smart (Associate Director,
Knight Science Journalism Program,
Associate Director,
Knight Science Journalism Program,
MIT),
Tom Zeller Jr. (Editor in Chief,
Editor in Chief,
Undark Magazine)
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 152mm,
Width: 235mm,
Spine: 19mm
Weight: 1g
ISBN: 9780197551509
ISBN 10: 0197551505
Pages: 360
Publication Date: 16 February 2023
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
INTRODUCTION Deborah Blum, Ashley Smart, and Tom Zeller Jr. PART 1: Foundations Chapter 1. How Science Works Nsikan Akpan Chapter 2. Finding and Vetting Sources Azeen Ghorashi Chapter 3. Journals, Peer Review, and Preprints Ivan Oransky Chapter 4. Working With Statistics Maggie Koerth Chapter 5. Fact Checking Brooke Borel PART 2: The Craft of Storytelling Chapter 6. A Foundation in News Alicia Chang Chapter 7. Story Structure Deborah Blum Chapter 8. Audio Storytelling Elana Gordon Chapter 9. Film and Video Storytelling Ian Cheney Chapter 10, Multimedia Storytelling Jeffery DelViscio Chapter 11. Data Storytelling Charles Seife Chapter 12. Opinion Writing Bina Venkataraman Chapter 13. Magazine Writing Paige Williams Chapter 14 Book Writing Dan Fagin PART 3: Investigative Journalism Chapter 15. Investigative Science Journalism Katherine Eban Chapter 16. Accessing Public Records Michael Morisy Chapter 17. The Art of the Interview Pallab Ghosh Chapter 18. Cybersecurity and Protecting Sources Andrada Fiscutean Chapter 19. The Public Information Machine James Glanz PART 4: Covering Science Beats Chapter 20. Medicine Sabriya Rice Chapter 21. Infectious Diseases Helen Branswell Chapter 22. Public Health Julia Belluz Chapter 23. Social Sciences Sujata Gupta Chapter 24. Science and Justice Rod McCullom Chapter 25. Physics Ashley Smart Chapter 26. Genetics Antonio Regalado Chapter 27. Technology Megan Molteni Chapter 28. Space Nadia Drake Chapter 29. Climate Sarah Kaplan Chapter 30. Conservation and Wildlife Rachel Nuwer Chapter 31. Earth Sciences Betsy Mason Chapter 32. Mathematics Jennifer Ouellette Chapter 33. Science Policy Dan Vergano Chapter 34. Artificial Intelligence Matthew Hutson Chapter 35. Cybersecurity and National Security Kim Zetter PART 5: Metrics, Models, and Marketing Chapter 36. New Models for Science Media Thomas Lin Chapter 37. Measuring Success in Science Journalism Kate Travis Chapter 38. Social Media in Science Journalism Liz Neporent Chapter 39 Building Trust and Navigating Mistrust Apoorva Mandavilli Chapter 40 Marketing Your Stories Jason Penchoff PART 6: The Global Picture Chapter 41. Narrative Reporting Abroad Martin Enserink Chapter 42. Reporting in Authoritarian Regimes Richard Stone Chapter 43. Collaborative Journalism Across Borders Iván Carrillo Chapter 44. Reporting in the Global South Esther Nakkazi EPILOGUE Stay Curious and Question Everything Tom Zeller Jr. RESOURCES
Deborah Blum is Director of the Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT and publisher of Undark magazine. She is a Pulitzer-prize winning American science journalist, columnist, and author of six books, most recently the 2018 New York Times Notable Book, The Poison Squad. Ashley Smart is Associate Director of the Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT and a senior editor at Undark magazine. He was previously the features editor at Physics Today magazine and a co-founder of the science news blog HBSciU.com. Tom Zeller Jr. is a former Knight Science Journalism Fellow (2013-14) and the editor in chief of Undark Magazine. Previously he spent two decades covering technology, energy policy, climate change, and the environment for a variety of publications, including 12 years as a staff writer and editor at The New York Times.
Reviews for A Tactical Guide to Science Journalism: Lessons From the Front Lines
A treasure trove of advice from some of the best in the business, this book is an invaluable guide for anyone looking to submerge themselves in the rich, complex, and demanding world of science journalism. * Ed Yong, Pulitzer-Prize winning science writer for The Atlantic and best-selling author of I Contain Multitudes * An essential and knowing companion for students, instructors, and professionals alike, the book treats readers to a diverse array of beautifully written expert perspectives about science journalism. * Mariette DiChristina, Dean and Professor of Practice, School of Communications, Boston University *
