Schedule

Other than the grading and absence policies, the instructor might modify parts of this syllabus during the semester with reasonable advance notice. It’s important to come to class to learn about possible changes.

A number of prominent journalists and scientists will meet with us. Be sure to read assignments before class and be prepared for a lively discussion. Most assignments are due at the beginning of class. The responses to readings, two questions and one comment on a classmate’s post, however, are due at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
Jan. 23

  • What’s ahead?
  • Introductions
  • Principles of science journalism
  • Spectrum of science stories
  • What does a scientist do? What does a journalist do?
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
Jan. 30

Dr. Melanie Lenart,
SWES, UA

  • Science vs. Journalism: Similarities and Differences
  • Changing role of science journalists in a digital age
  • Accuracy and uncertainty
  • Converting concepts to stories
  • Activity: Accuracy exercise
  1. Nancy Baron, “Tell Me a Story: What a Journalist Wants From You”
  2. Laura D. Carsten and Deborah L. Illman, “Perceptions of Accuracy in Science Writing”
  3. Matthew Nisbet, “The Science Journalist Online: Shifting Roles and Emerging Practices” Read the first three sections. Stop at “Science journalism that is participatory, social and pluralistic.”
  4. Andrew Revkin—“Reliable Sources in an Age of Too Much Information”
  5. How to understand and explain “the God particle”
  6. The expectations game: Blogs drive MSM speculation about Higgs announcement
  7. Science and Truth: We’re All in It Together
  1. Response 1 (including two questions) and comment on one classmate’s post) are due noon Sunday, Jan. 29. Here’s how each response will be graded.
  2. OPTIONAL: Andrew Revkin, award-winning science journalist, will speak on Thursday Jan. 26 at 3:30 p.m. in ILC 120.
  3. OPTIONAL: Monique Wittig $1,000 Writer’s Scholarship deadline is March 5.
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
Feb. 6

  • Places to publish science stories

Daniel Stolte,
science writer, UA Communications

  • Advocacy, PR and science communication vs. objective reporting
  • Communication gap between scientists and journalists
  • Activity: Pitch article so it’s relevant and interesting to public
  1. “Cheerleader or watchdog?” Nature 459, 25 June 2009
  2. Toby Murcott, “Science Journalism: Toppling the Priesthood,” Nature 459, 25 June 2009
  3. Boyce Rensberger, “Science Journalism: Too close for comfort?” Nature 459, 25 June 2009
  4. Geoff Brumfiel, “Breaking the convention?” Nature 459, 25 June 2009
  5. Russell McLendon, “Science and sensibility: The danger of jargon”
  6. Thomas Lin, “Cracking Open the Scientific Process”
  7. “Why I Got Into Science Writing” Read ONLY “Daniel Stolte says.” Daniel is today’s guest. If you have time, read any others that interest you.
  1. Response 2 (including two questions) and comment on one classmate’s post) are due noon Sunday, Feb. 5.
  2. Research a subject for your paper (academic or journalistic). See possible topics. I added examples of student stories and multimedia projects.
  3. OPTIONAL: Curate, create and conquer: Journalism 2.0 startups to watch
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
Feb. 13
Tom Beal, science reporter, Arizona Daily Star

  • From journal article to press release to interview with lead author of journal article
  • Misinterpretation of scientific studies
  • What counts as newsworthy and credible in science?
  • Activity: Dissect journal article on tortoise hibernacula
  • Activity: Focus
  1. Skim Chapter 2 in Elise Hancock’s Ideas Into Words. Follow these instructions to access free e-book.
  2. Bruce Tabashnik works in a field of research that is almost totally supported by the big seed companies (including his own work) yet has become something of a whistle-blower on the subject of genetically altered seed: “Crop pests abroad resistant to controls”
  3. Optional but helpful: Ethical problems; how to write about technical subjects without getting lost in the jargon: “Modified seed, sterile bugs KO pink bollworm
  4. Optional but helpful: Understanding a difficult topic. “UA’s 5-laser array helps reduce sky’s turbulence”
  5. Newspaper story on “First vegetarian spider found”
  6. Optional but helpful: Compare #5 with UA News press release on “Herbivory discovered in a spider”
  7. Optional but helpful: Compare #6 and #7 with Current Biology article about “Herbivory in a spider through exploitation of an ant-plant mutualism”
  8. Optional: This is a great article by a Pulitzer Prize winner about how to find local characters for your stories. (It has nothing to do with science.)
  1. Instead of posting a response to the readings, ask two questions about the readings and comment on one of your classmate’s questions by 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12.
  2. Also on the home page, post a short proposal of your paper (academic or journalistic) or multimedia project by noon Sunday, Feb. 12. Be sure to comment on at least one of your classmate’s story proposals. See possible topics. I added examples of student stories and multimedia projects.
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
Feb. 20
Jim Mitchell,
Assistant Professor, School of Journalism, UA

  • Admitting scientific evidence and testimony in a trial
  • Legal protection of scientific innovation
  • Synonyms
  • Story structure
  1. Science Law (handout you received in class)
  2. Frye v. United States
  3. People v. Kelly
  4. Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  5. Write a response to #2, #3 and/or #4, not to Elise Hancock, but please skim Chapter 3 (Finding Out: Research and the Interview) in Elise Hancock’s Ideas Into Words. Follow these instructions to access free e-book.
  1. Response 4 to Readings #2, #3 and/or #4 (including two questions, one of which should be about the legal readings) and a comment on one classmate’s post) are due noon Sunday, Feb. 19.
  2. If requested in last week’s post, post a revised story proposal by 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19. Include a sentence or two describing the cool factor. Why would someone want to read your story?
  3. Optional but helpful: Share sources and/or feedback on your classmates’ revised story proposals.
  4. Begin researching your paper or multimedia project.
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
Feb. 27
Dr. Hughes is ill, so we’re very lucky to have Mort Rosenblum, environmental journalist extraordinaire, join us today

  • Environmental journalism
  • Discussion: Ethical dilemmas
  • Activity: Writing ledes and picking good quotes
  • Activity: Finding ideas for science stories in the news
  • Literary techniques (metaphor, detail and description)
  • Activity: Write a scene
  1. Chapter 4 (Writing: Getting Started and the Structure ) in Elise Hancock’s Ideas Into Words. Follow these instructions to access free e-book.
  2. Chris Mooney, “Does PolitiFact Adequately Cover Scientific Misinformation?”
  3. Bud Ward, Communicating On Climate Change. Everyone: Scan Sections 1 and 2. Megan, Shea and Ben: List the main points in Section 3. Johanna, Eric, Sam and Amy: List the main points in Section 4. John de Dios, Jessica, John Ruane, Dara, Susan and Danny: List the main points in Section 5. Elizabeth, Corinne, Michelle, Lilian and Missy: List the main points in Section 6.
  4. Skim and be prepared to ask a question about Mort Rosenblum’s “Free-for-all” decimates fish stocks in the southern Pacific. Look at the multimedia and infographics. The story also ran in The New York Times: In Mackerel’s Plunder, Hints of Epic Fish Collapse.
  5. Optional: This chapter on interviewing is geared toward broadcast journalists, but almost everything applies to writing as well.
  6. Optional: Telling Science Stories…wait, what’s a “story”?
  1. For Response 5 write about Chris Mooney (#2 at left) and/or Elise Hancock’s Chapter 3 from last week and/or Chapter 4 from this week by noon Sunday, Feb. 26.
  2. Ask two questions about Sections 1 and/or 2 of Bud Ward (see #3 at left) by noon Sunday, Feb. 26.
  3. Comment on one classmate’s response or questions by noon Sunday, Feb. 26.
  4. Bring to class (do not post) a written list of the main points in the section you’ve been assigned in Bud Ward (see #3 at left). Do NOT confer ahead of time with the other students in your group. You’ll produce group summaries in class after a discussion.
  5. Begin researching, interviewing and writing your story or working on your multimedia project.
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
March 5

  • Journalism 101
  • Nut graphs
  • Scenes
  1. By class time today: Post a detailed outline and one section of your story and a list of references and/or sources with contact info (title, email, phone) OR post a link to part of your multimedia project or script and a list of references and/or sources with contact info (title, email, phone). You may use any style for the sources—AP, APA, MLA, whatever.
  2. By midnight Friday, March 9: Post DETAILED constructive comments on three of your classmate’s posts. If there are already three sets of comments, find a post with no comments, one comment or two comments. You may comment on more than three if you like!
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
March 12
Spring Break!
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
March 19
Dr. Malcolm Hughes,
Regents’ Professor, SNRE, UA

  • Handling controversy: Scientists and the press
  • Are reporters too close to their scientific sources?
  • How do scientists try to control the language and content of science and technology in the press?
  • Do scientists feel betrayed or misrepresented?
  • How can journalists tell if science is good or not?
  1. Robert Krulwich, “Tell Me a Story” (thanks to Corinne!)
  2. Chapter 5 (Writing: The Nitty Gritty) in Elise Hancock’s Ideas Into Words. Follow these instructions to access free e-book.
  3. Chris Mooney, “The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science”

Eye on the Environment photo contest deadline: Monday, April 2
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, a book credited with sparking the beginning of the modern environmental movement. To honor her work, photo submissions should reflect Carson’s descriptions of ecology and the balance of nature in terms of soil, water and organisms, and mankind’s role in upsetting—or restoring—that balance.

Prizes:
• Best of Show $200
• Student (Undergrad/ Grad) $100
  1. Bring to class (do not post) a written list of the main points in the section you’ve been assigned in Bud Ward (see #3 in the readings for Feb. 27). Do NOT confer ahead of time with the other students in your group. You’ll produce group summaries in class after a discussion.
  2. Continue writing first version of your paper or working on your multimedia project.
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
March 26
Dr. Bob Steidl,
Associate Professor, SNRE, UA

  • Statistics for science journalists
  • The certainty of uncertainty
  • Problems in communicating technical content to a lay audience—correlation vs. causation, absolute vs. relative risk, etc.
  • Flawed math in the media
  1. Lewis Cope, Understanding and Using Statistics (only Chapter 3)
  2. Statistical terms used in research studies
  3. 12 “rules of thumb for journalists” helps reporters do a better job handling numbers.
  4. The article above came from Getstats, which is the Royal Statistical Society’s campaign to improve statistical literacy. Directed by a former journalist, Getstats provides reporters with great tips to help them report numbers accurately.
  5. Robert Niles,Statistics Every Journalist Should Know (focus on items not covered in other readings, such as standard deviation, normal distribution, sample size and t-tests.)
  1. Due 3 p.m. Sunday, March 25: Post Response 6 and two questions (see Response 6 for instructions about two questions, which are different from the others we’ve done) and a comment on one classmate’s post or questions.
  2. By class time Monday: Post the first version of your COMPLETE story or the link to your COMPLETE multimedia project in D2L’s Dropbox. Post a .doc rather than a .docx. If you’re missing an element, such as an interview, mention that. Put three questions at the end of your story about things you’re not sure about or have been struggling with so we can lend a hand. For multimedia projects, give us a link to YouTube and also include three questions. For both stories and multimedia projects, include complete contact information (name, title, organization, location, phone, email) for your sources. Be sure to include a title.
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
April 2
  1. Scientific Communication Linkfest
  2. noob Science Blogging: Part 1
  3. noob Science Blogging: Part 2
  4. Science of Blogging
  5. Social Media for Scientists Part 1: It’s Our Jobs
  6. Social Media for Scientists Part 2: You Do Have Time
  7. Social Media for Scientists Part 2.5: Breaking Stereotypes
  8. Social Media for Scientists Part 3: Win-Win
  9. Social media tools for journalists
  1. Response 7 will be a blog post about your story or multimedia project or your own science research. You could, for example, write a backstory about an intriguing interview, an interesting character in your story or a challenge you faced and overcame. Here are tips about writing a blog post. Also ask two questions about the social media readings, and comment on one classmate’s post). Due 3 p.m. Sunday, April 1.
  2. BRING to class on Monday: Detailed written comments on your teammate’s stories. Use Comments or Track Changes.
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
April 9
Shipherd Reed,
multimedia specialist, Flandrau

  • Through the lens: Telling science stories with visuals
  1. 9 key elements that can help journalists be better video storytellers. Look at the examples.
  2. Based on the 9 key elements, pick a SCIENCE video, audio slideshow or podcast that does a good job or bad job. Not every piece will have all 9 key elements.
  3. If you can’t find something, you could review a RadioLab podcast or something from RadioLab archive. You could also check out the Diana Liverman video and the Mirror Lab/Roger Angel video called Giant Mirrors to Capture the Universe on the UA home page. Other options are videos from the Climate Reality Project. There are many on the video page, with some more effective than others. You decide which!
  4. Chapter 6 (Refining Your Draft) and Chapter 7 (When You’re Feeling Stuck) in Elise Hancock’s Ideas Into Words. Follow these instructions to access free e-book.
  5. OPTIONAL: Boost Your Career with Social Media: Tips for the Uninitiated
  1. For Response 8 pretend you’re a media critic. Read 9 key elements that can help journalists be better video storytellers. Write a review of a good or bad SCIENCE video, audio slideshow or podcast. (You could also compare a good and a bad piece.) Think critically about what works and
    what does not. Also ask two questions about the Elise Hancock readings, and comment on one classmate’s post). Due 3 p.m. Sunday, April 8.
  2. Work on revising your paper or multimedia project.
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
April 16
Field trip
Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter
  1. Be at the Marshall parking lot, ready to go, at 1:15 p.m. Look for a big, white UA van.
  2. Bring a warm sweater, parka, hat, gloves and water.
  3. We’ll have a light meal, but you might want to bring a snack.
  4. Carol’s cell phone number is 520-300-0693.
  5. Our start time is 4 p.m. The program usually lasts four to five hours, which means we’ll be leaving between 8 and 9 p.m.
  6. Here’s more info about SkyCenter’s SkyNights.

FYI: Fourth International Science in Society Conference, University of California, Berkeley, 17-19 November 2012
  1. By class time Monday: Email Carol the revision of your paper or link to your revised multimedia project.
  2. For Response 9 post one entry for our science journalism handbook. Example 1: Explain what “prove a theory” means to a scientist vs. the general reader. Example 2: Explain p<.05. Example 3: Give several examples of jargon in your field and show how you can rewrite them in a conversational way.
  3. Read about Adam Block’s award.
  4. OPTIONAL: Why do we need academic journals in the first place?
April 23

  • Student presentations
  • What are your guidelines for improving science coverage?
  • Environmental journalism—history, ethics
  • Undercovered issues
  • Balanced coverage: Case study on God and Darwin: The York Daily Record and the Intelligent Design Trial
  1. “Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring,” Ethics for Public Communication, pp. 113-128
  2. Read the first three chapters of Silent Spring, which are available at Google Books.
  3. Daniel Sarewitz, “Lab Politics: Most scientists in this country are Democrats. That’s a problem”
  4. Christine Russell, “Covering Controversial Science: Improving Reporting on Science and Public Policy,” pp. 13-43, with a focus on 37-42
  5. “What If There Were Rules for Science Journalism?”
  6. Knight Case Study, “God and Darwin: The York Daily Record and the Intelligent Design Trial.” Available online for $5.95. This case examines the challenge of providing balanced coverage of a court case when the trial is about science and the reporter believes the science on one side is flawed. Is the role of a local newspaper to reflect local mores and values or to challenge them?
  1. Groups 1 and 2: 15-minute oral presentation (with handout).
  2. Bring in one entry about science for our addition to the AP style guide.
  3. Email Carol your personal experience story about SkyCenter.
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
April 16
Field trip
Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter
  1. Be at the Marshall parking lot, ready to go, at 1:15 p.m. That’s the parking lot to the west of the Marshall Building as you walk toward the Marriott. Look for a big, white UA van.
  2. Bring a warm sweater, parka, hat, gloves and water. Wear close-toed, sturdy shoes for warmth and safety. It will be cold after the sun goes down.
  3. OPTIONAL: Bring a camera in case we have a beautiful sunset.
  4. We’ll have a light meal (sandwich, chips, cookies, drinks), but you might want to bring a snack. Warm drinks will be available during the evening.
  5. Carol’s cell phone number is 520-300-0693.
  6. Our start time is 4 p.m. The program usually lasts four to five hours, which means we’ll be leaving the SkyCenter to return to campus between 8 and 9 p.m.
  7. Here’s more info about SkyCenter’s SkyNights.
  1. By class time Monday: Email Carol the revision of your paper or link to your revised multimedia project.
  2. By class time Monday: Email Carol what you plan to do for your presentation.
  3. Read about Adam Block’s award.
  4. OPTIONAL: Why do we need academic journals in the first place?

Microsoft Outlook might “zip” attachments I send into a “.dat” file. If you have a problem, download the .dat and upload it to Winmaildat. You can then download the extracted files by clicking on the file name.
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
April 23

  • Student presentations: Corinne, Shea, Megan, Sam, John de Dios, Michelle, Lilian and Jessica
  • Guest speaker favorites
  • Course eval
  1. Corinne, Shea, Megan, Sam, John de Dios, Michelle, Lilian and Jessica: 15-minute oral presentation and activity (with one-page handout).
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
April 30

  • Student presentations: Susan, Eric, Dara, Ben, Amy, Danny and John Ruane
  1. OPTIONAL: Online story by Megan in LA Times! Arizona immigration: SB 1070 took toll on state’s reputation
  2. OPTIONAL: Print version of Megan’s story in LA Times! In Arizona, furor over illegal immigration has cooled
  1. Susan, Eric, Dara, Ben, Amy, Danny and John Ruane: 15-minute oral presentation and activity (with one-page handout).
GUEST/TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
Friday, May 4
NO CLASS TODAY
  1. By class time Friday: Email Carol final version of your paper or link to final version of your multimedia project.

Leave a comment