Popular science writing has exploded in the past decade, both in print and online. Who better to guide writers striving to succeed in the profession than a group of award-winning independent journalists with a combined total of 225 years of experience? From Thomas Hayden's chapter on the perfect pitch to Emma Maris's advice on book proposals to Mark Schrope's essential information on contracts, the members of SciLance give writers of all experience levels the practical information they need to succeed, as either a staffer or a freelancer. Going beyond craft, The Science Writer's Handbook also tackles issues such as creating productive office space, balancing work and family, and finding lasting career satisfaction. It is the ultimate guide for anyone looking to prosper as a science writer in the new era of publishing.

This guide offers practical tips on science writing - from investigative reporting to pitching ideas to magazine editors. Some of the best known science witers in the US share their hard earned knowledge on how they do their job.

This handbook introduces science journalists to the tools and mindset of investigative reporting.

A deeply sourced, inclusive guide to all aspects of science writing with contributions from some of the most skilled and award-winning authors working today. Science writing has never been so critical to our world, and the demands on writers have never been greater. On any given day, a writer might need to explain the details of AI, analyze developments in climate change research, or serve as a watchdog helping to ensure the integrity of the scientific enterprise. At the same time, writers must spin tales that hook and keep readers, despite the endless other demands on their attention. How does one do it? The Craft of Science Writing is the authoritative guide. With pieces curated from the archives of science writers’ go-to online resource, The Open Notebook, this book explores strategies for finding and shaping story ideas, pitching editors, and building a specialty in science writing. It delves into fundamental skills that every science writer must learn, including planning their reporting; identifying, interviewing, and quoting sources; organizing interview notes; and crafting stories that engage and inform audiences. This expanded edition includes new introductory material and nine new essays focusing on such topics as how to establish a science beat, how to find and use quotes, how to critically evaluate scientific claims, how to use social media for reporting, and how to do data-driven reporting. In addition, there are essays on inclusivity in science writing, offering strategies for eradicating ableist language from stories, working with sensitivity readers, and breaking into English-language media for speakers of other languages. Through interviews with leading journalists offering behind-the-scenes inspiration as well as in-depth essays on the craft offering practical advice, readers will learn how the best science stories get made, from conception to completion. Contributors: Humberto Basilio, Siri Carpenter, Jeanne Erdmann, Dan Ferber, Tina Casagrand Foss, Geoffrey Giller, Laura Helmuth, Jane C. Hu, Alla Katsnelson, Roxanne Khamsi, Betsy Ladyzhets, Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Amanda Mascarelli, Robin Meadows, Kate Morgan, Tiên Nguyễn, Michelle Nijhuis, Aneri Pattani, Rodrigo Pérez Ortega, Mallory Pickett, Kendall Powell, Tasneem Raja, Sandeep Ravindran, Marion Renault, Julia Rosen, Megha Satyanarayana, Christina Selby, Knvul Sheikh, Abdullahi Tsanni, Alexandra Witze, Katherine J. Wu, Wudan Yan, Ed Yong, Rachel Zamzow, Sarah Zhang, and Carl Zimmer

Though the essay form is more than four centuries old, it's perfectly suited to the digital age--and to science writing. The Science Writers' Essay Handbook will show you how to: * Recognize and develop essay ideas * Research and report for the essay form * Organize your material before you write * Develop a distinctive authorial voice * Revise and polish your essays for publication * Apply your essay-writing skills to stories of all kinds, from magazine features to multimedia productions to social-media posts No matter what kind of science storyteller you are, The Science Writers' Essay Handbook will give you new tools to bring out the best in your work.

This book takes an integrated approach, using the principles of story structure to discuss every aspect of successful science writing, from the overall structure of a paper or proposal to individual sections, paragraphs, sentences, and words. It begins by building core arguments, analyzing why some stories are engaging and memorable while others are quickly forgotten, and proceeds to the elements of story structure, showing how the structures scientists and researchers use in papers and proposals fit into classical models. The book targets the internal structure of a paper, explaining how to write clear and professional sections, paragraphs, and sentences in a way that is clear and compelling.

"Investigative Journalism means the unveiling of matters that are concealed either deliberately by someone in a position of power, or accidentally, behind a chaotic mass of facts and circumstances - and the analysis and exposure of all relevant facts to the public. In this way investigative journalism crucially contributes to freedom of expression and freedom of information, which are at the heart of UNESCO's mandate. The role media can play as a watchdog is indispensable for democracy and it is for this reason that UNESCO fully supports initiatives to strengthen investigative journalism throughout the world. I believe this publication makes a significant contribution to promoting investigative journalism and I hope it will be a valuable resource for journalists and media professionals, as well as for journalism trainers and educators." -- Jānis Kārklinš, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, UNESCO, Preface, page 1.

As technological and legal changes have hollowed out the protections that reporters and news organizations have depended upon for decades, information security concerns facing journalists as they report, produce, and disseminate the news have only intensified. From source prosecutions to physical attacks and online harassment, the last two decades have seen a dramatic increase in the risks faced by journalists at all levels even as the media industry confronts drastic cutbacks in budgets and staff. As a result, few professional or aspiring journalists have a comprehensive understanding of what is required to keep their sources, stories, colleagues, and reputations safe. This book is an essential guide to protecting news writers, sources, and organizations in the digital era. Susan E. McGregor provides a systematic understanding of the key technical, legal, and conceptual issues that anyone teaching, studying, or practicing journalism should know. Bringing together expert insights from both leading academics and security professionals who work at and with news organizations from BuzzFeed to the Associated Press, she lays out key principles and approaches for building information security into journalistic practice. McGregor draws on firsthand experience as a Wall Street Journal staffer, followed by a decade of researching, testing, and developing information security tools and practices. Filled with practical but evergreen advice that can enhance the security and efficacy of everything from daily beat reporting to long-term investigative projects, Information Security Essentials is a vital tool for journalists at all levels. * Please note that older print versions of this book refer to Reuters' Gina Chua by her previous name. This is being corrected in forthcoming print and digital editions.

Fundamentals of Investigative Report Writing teaches readers how to precisely construct investigative reports, whether for criminal, employment-policy, or employee-performance investigations. Dedicated to helping report-writers produce valuable extrinsic documentation, the book explains how to describe "what happened and why" in clear, concise terms. Topics include writing attitude and ethics, the "always" rules of writing, tips for conducting successful interviews, techniques for writing with precision, purposes and techniques for editing and proof-reading, and how to incorporate sketches, drawings, diagrams, and other visuals. The book also addresses considerations when writing United States Constitutional- based reports, as well as strategies involved in other forms of written communication such as e-mail, business letters, memoranda, and social media. This edition features a chapter devoted to performance evaluations that helps supervisors to be accurate, state things efficiently, insure the quality of the organization, and develop the employee. Each chapter includes learning objectives, chapter summaries, specific writing assignments, and a feature story related to the chapter's content-focus. Illustrations have been carefully selected to support the written text. Thoughtfully developed to set students and instructors up for success, Fundamentals of Investigative Report Writing is ideal for technical education programs in administration of justice, criminal justice, and law enforcement and courses on investigative and police report writing and report writing for criminal justice and law enforcement professionals. After twenty-five years in law enforcement, Gary Guthrie retired and brought his experience and expertise to the university classroom. A faculty member at both Point Loma Nazarene University and Southwestern College in San Diego, he teaches criminal justice courses with a significant focus on the role of quality written documentation. Professor Guthrie relies on his own extensive investigative report-writing experience, which encompasses criminal, administrative, and policy investigations, to inform his teaching and his approach to foundational skills development in his students.

Equal parts true crime, twentieth-century history, and science thriller, The Poisoner's Handbook is "a vicious, page-turning story that reads more like Raymond Chandler than Madame Curie." —The New York Observer “The Poisoner’s Handbook breathes deadly life into the Roaring Twenties.” —Financial Times “Reads like science fiction, complete with suspense, mystery and foolhardy guys in lab coats tipping test tubes of mysterious chemicals into their own mouths.” —NPR: What We're Reading A fascinating Jazz Age tale of chemistry and detection, poison and murder, The Poisoner's Handbook is a page-turning account of a forgotten era. In early twentieth-century New York, poisons offered an easy path to the perfect crime. Science had no place in the Tammany Hall-controlled coroner's office, and corruption ran rampant. However, with the appointment of chief medical examiner Charles Norris in 1918, the poison game changed forever. Together with toxicologist Alexander Gettler, the duo set the justice system on fire with their trailblazing scientific detective work, triumphing over seemingly unbeatable odds to become the pioneers of forensic chemistry and the gatekeepers of justice. In 2014, PBS's AMERICAN EXPERIENCE released a film based on The Poisoner's Handbook.