Adventures in science journalismAdventures in science journalism

Jo MarchantNews editor, Nature

Jo MarchantNews editor, Nature

How I got here…How I got here…

BSc Biological Sciences (Genetics)Leicester University 1992-1995PhD Medical MicrobiologyLeicester University and St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London 1995-1998MSc Science CommunicationImperial College London 1998-1999

BSc Biological Sciences (Genetics)Leicester University 1992-1995PhD Medical MicrobiologyLeicester University and St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London 1995-1998MSc Science CommunicationImperial College London 1998-1999

How I got here…How I got here…

6 weeks work experience at New Scientist, Jul-Aug 19993 months work experience in press office at CERN physics lab, Geneva, Oct-Dec 19996-month internship at New Scientist, Jan-Jul 2000

6 weeks work experience at New Scientist, Jul-Aug 19993 months work experience in press office at CERN physics lab, Geneva, Oct-Dec 19996-month internship at New Scientist, Jan-Jul 2000

How I got here…How I got here…

Reporter, New ScientistJul 2000 – Dec 2001Physical sciences news editor, New Scientist Dec 2001 – April 2004Online news editor, NatureApril 2004 - March 2005News editor, NatureApril 2005 - present

Reporter, New ScientistJul 2000 – Dec 2001Physical sciences news editor, New Scientist Dec 2001 – April 2004Online news editor, NatureApril 2004 - March 2005News editor, NatureApril 2005 - present

Nature’s news coverageNature’s news coverage

8-page news section at the front of the magazineAbout 15 reporters around the worldCover news of the week that will be of particular interest to professional scientistsAll the news is also published online, along with daily online-only news stories

8-page news section at the front of the magazineAbout 15 reporters around the worldCover news of the week that will be of particular interest to professional scientistsAll the news is also published online, along with daily online-only news stories

What I doWhat I do

Determine overall news strategy - what sort of story should Nature be covering, and how?Commission all the news stories each week -decide what to cover, what angle to take, who will write itEdit the copy when it comes in from reportersSee the story through onto the page - work with subs, picture researchers and art desk on the layout, picture choice, headlines etc

Determine overall news strategy - what sort of story should Nature be covering, and how?Commission all the news stories each week -decide what to cover, what angle to take, who will write itEdit the copy when it comes in from reportersSee the story through onto the page - work with subs, picture researchers and art desk on the layout, picture choice, headlines etc

Who covers science news?Who covers science news?

Daily newspapers eg Guardian, New York TimesDaily news websites eg BBCCurrent affairs magazines eg Economist, Newsweek, ProspectPopular science magazines (weekly/monthly)eg New Scientist, Scientific American, Discover, Seed, WiredScience journals eg Science, NatureNot to mention TV, radio, podcasts, blogs etc

Daily newspapers eg Guardian, New York TimesDaily news websites eg BBCCurrent affairs magazines eg Economist, Newsweek, ProspectPopular science magazines (weekly/monthly)eg New Scientist, Scientific American, Discover, Seed, WiredScience journals eg Science, NatureNot to mention TV, radio, podcasts, blogs etc

Where news stories come fromWhere news stories come from

Press releasesScientific papersConference presentationsEvents already in the newsGossip / interviewsLab visits

Press releasesScientific papersConference presentationsEvents already in the newsGossip / interviewsLab visits

What stories we coverWhat stories we coverMust be of broad, international interest, that will make a difference to readers’ lives:

1. Scientific results - where there are broader implications, either for the field or for society, or an interesting controversy or human story

2. Science policy - stories about what science is funded or how it is carried out

3. Science behind/around events in the news4. Community stories - stories about how

scientists work and relate to each other

Must be of broad, international interest, that will make a difference to readers’ lives:

1. Scientific results - where there are broader implications, either for the field or for society, or an interesting controversy or human story

2. Science policy - stories about what science is funded or how it is carried out

3. Science behind/around events in the news4. Community stories - stories about how

scientists work and relate to each other

How we cover storiesHow we cover stories

Always have to bear in mind the competition from newspapers, TV, radio, websites, popular science magazines, and make sure we add something more:

1. Break exclusive stories2. Authoritative, accurate coverage3. In-depth analysis - what does it all

mean?

Always have to bear in mind the competition from newspapers, TV, radio, websites, popular science magazines, and make sure we add something more:

1. Break exclusive stories2. Authoritative, accurate coverage3. In-depth analysis - what does it all

mean?

The editing processThe editing process

Reporter pitches news storyEditor commissions storyReporter writes story, files to editorEditor edits the story (big picture)Subs sub-edit the story (grammar, sense)Editor sends back to reporter to checkStory laid out on page, subs cut to fitEditor works with subs on headline, caption etc

Reporter pitches news storyEditor commissions storyReporter writes story, files to editorEditor edits the story (big picture)Subs sub-edit the story (grammar, sense)Editor sends back to reporter to checkStory laid out on page, subs cut to fitEditor works with subs on headline, caption etc

Tips on getting into science journalismTips on getting into science journalism

Read as much science journalism as possible - look at who covers what and howFind out who the key people are on publications you might want to write/work forDo some freelance work on the side, and/or get involved in student newspaperTry to get some work experience - many publications do summer placements, or try for BA Media Fellowship Take a journalism or science communication courseJoin the Association of British Science WritersMay be easier to start at a more specialist publication

Read as much science journalism as possible - look at who covers what and howFind out who the key people are on publications you might want to write/work forDo some freelance work on the side, and/or get involved in student newspaperTry to get some work experience - many publications do summer placements, or try for BA Media Fellowship Take a journalism or science communication courseJoin the Association of British Science WritersMay be easier to start at a more specialist publication

How to pitch a story(to an editor who gets hundreds of emails a day)

How to pitch a story(to an editor who gets hundreds of emails a day)

Do your homework on the publicationFind out who the relevant editor isFind a story the editor can’t get anywhere elseEmail short pitch: say what the story is, what sort of article you are pitching, why it’s right for that publication, where the story is from and any particular expertise you bring to it. Don’t just forward an abstract or press release

Say when you need to hear back by. Follow up with phone call

Do your homework on the publicationFind out who the relevant editor isFind a story the editor can’t get anywhere elseEmail short pitch: say what the story is, what sort of article you are pitching, why it’s right for that publication, where the story is from and any particular expertise you bring to it. Don’t just forward an abstract or press release

Say when you need to hear back by. Follow up with phone call

What makes a good science journalist

What makes a good science journalist

Love talking about and writing about scienceHave an inherent curiosity, must want to ask questions and not care looking stupid. Your job is to make things simple for the reader, not to make yourself look cleverKnow how to tell a story. Each article needs a clear narrative, you’re not just writing about/around a topicBe hard on yourself. Is this really new? Does anyone really care? Do you really understand what’s going on?Care about tiny details, at same time as pursuing the big pictureDistance yourself from the scientific community - you are reporting on science and holding it to account

Love talking about and writing about scienceHave an inherent curiosity, must want to ask questions and not care looking stupid. Your job is to make things simple for the reader, not to make yourself look cleverKnow how to tell a story. Each article needs a clear narrative, you’re not just writing about/around a topicBe hard on yourself. Is this really new? Does anyone really care? Do you really understand what’s going on?Care about tiny details, at same time as pursuing the big pictureDistance yourself from the scientific community - you are reporting on science and holding it to account