Science Writing:

Who, What, Where and How Much

Charles A. Goldthwaite, Ph.D.

Centenary College

October 1, 2004

What Exactly Do You Do, Anyway?

Science writers create a variety of documents, such as:

• Journal articles• Grants and funding announcements• New drug applications• Advertising materials• Continuing medical education guidelines• Conference summaries• Feature stories/ journalism

Science Writing: At a Bookstore Near You

Science Writing is:• Focused on clarity• Data-driven and

supported• Generated as a support

for a greater cause• Often anonymous

Science Writing is not:• Creative writing, in

the classical sense• Opinion-oriented• A solo effort

Home on the Range:Where Science Writers Write

• Pharmaceutical / Biotech Industry

• Government Agencies (e.g., NIH, NSF, FDA, DOE)

• Academic Institutions/ Medical Centers

• Medical Education Companies

• Magazines/Newspapers

• Freelance Consulting (all of the above can be clients)

Getting There: The Big Picture

• There is no one required degree to be a science writer.

• Science writers have any of the following degrees: BA/BS, MA/MS, PhD, MD, MPH, JD, etc.

• In general, a degree in science + decent writing ability is preferable to a background in English/journalism + the potential to understand the science

Getting There: More Observations

• In general, professional options increase with higher terminal degree

(PhD, MD, PharmD > MA/MS > BA/BS)

• Advanced degrees in English can be a gray area for some employers

• Several US institutions offer 1-year Masters programs in Science Writing (MIT, Johns Hopkins, UC Santa Cruz)

Getting There: Masters Programs in Science Writing

• Generally, these programs train writers in “science journalism,” mostly for jobs with mass media and science journals

• Advantages: great networking, required internships, programs are respected in profession

• Considerations: Competitive, expensive (no scholarships), experience is a plus

Geographic Considerations

• As a science writer (excepting freelancing), you usually work onsite

• Most jobs with industry, medical education companies, etc., are in MA, PA, NJ, CT, IL, and CA; a limited number in the South and Midwest

• Government jobs are in DC

• Mass media jobs often in NYC (Yay!)

Show Me the Money

General Rules:

• The more personal prestige associated with the assignment, the less lucrative it usually is.

• Higher pay usually correlates with higher pressure assignments.

• The academy pays less than the govt and private industry, for the same level of training.

Numbers, Please

• Pay varies with experience, degree level, geography, etc.

• Many jobs listed on Monster.com give salary ranges

• For candidates with doctorates:Industry: $50-90K

Government: $50-75K

Academic institutions: $40-60K

Freelancing: $50/hr and up

Getting Started

• Writing samples are a form of currency: You can’t have too many!

• Start small; offer to write for free in a low-pressure situation (e.g., short blurbs in a local medical newsletter, etc.)

• Build networks: Summer internships (often unpaid) get your foot in the door

• Interview local science legends (e.g., Drs. Brame, Chirhart, Blakeney, Leucks) for feature stories in The Conglomerate

Resources

Info, Forums, Job Leads, Networking:

• National Association of Science Writers

• American Medical Writers Association

• Science’s Next Wave

Survey of Jobs Available:

• Monster.com (keyword “medical writer” or “science writer”)