1. Science
Journalism
Part II
Lecture 5
Dr. Jessica Laccetti

2. Outline
 Homework Review
 Science Journalism
 Activity
 Homework

3. Homework Review
 Splitthe class in half
 Left side, in small groups, reviews: The Loom
 Right side, in small groups, reviews:
NeuroTribes
 Be ready to share your findings on:
 Author objectivity
 “truthiness”
 Scientific accuracy
 Academic merit (peer review, citations etc)
 Discussion (comments, tweets, likes)

4. Susan Hockfield
Tweet @JessL: 1 new thing you have learnt from the video
5:46
science journalism “is now, and in the decades ahead, absolutely indispensable.”

5. Point of View/ What’s Your
Angle?
Every story needs a "news angle"
or perspective. Even though you
are reporting on science, there is
no truly "objective" journalistic
view

6. Perspective
 close to a single person, e.g. a patient or a victim;
 high above a scene, reporting from a distance,
independent and little involved;
 close to an organisation that offers information, such as
an NGO or a company;
 close to the scientific community;
 close to the audience, examining problems in their daily
life

7. Activity: In Groups of 5-6
 Choose one article/blog post from The Loom
(http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/) & one
from NeuroTribes
(http://blogs.plos.org/neurotribes/)
 Compare the writing perspectives: what view does
each blogger take? Does their view hamper the
“objectivity” of the story? How or why?
 Postyour responses as a comment on the class
blog (be sure to list all group members)

8. Final Thoughts
“Some journalists are still stuck in the model:
We give you journalism, that’s the way it is. In
this world, where we don’t know if there’s
going to be a pandemic, or where the next
terrorist attack will be, or how bad global
warming is going to be, if I’m not engaged in
a two-way street with scientifically engaged
readers, I’m not responsible.”
 Andrew Revkin

9. Friday = Online Class
By the end of class students must:
 Complete the social media survey on the Module 2
blog post
 Set up a blog using Blogger and write an introductory
post about you and your field of study and what role
communication plays in your work (dissemination of
results, linking with fellow researchers, etc.…)
 In a comment on the Module 2 blog post, leave a
link to your newly started blog (absolutely necessary
so the professor and TAs can grade your work)
 Note: you require a personal blog for your E-Portfolio.
 Note: follow ALL e-portfolio guidelines (images, links
and proper citations)