A Field Guide for Science Writers: The Official Guide of the National Association of Science Writers

by Deborah Blum (Editor), Mary Knudson, Robin Marantz Henig

This is the official text for the National Association of Science Writers. In the eight years since the publication of the first edition of A Field Guide for Science Writing, much about the world has changed. Some of the leading issues in today's political marketplace - embryonic stem cell research, global warming, health care reform, space exploration, genetic privacy, germ warfare - are informed by scientific ideas. Never has it been more crucial for the lay public to be scientifically literate. That's where science writers come in. And that's why it's time for an update to the Field Guide, already a staple of science writing graduate programs across the country.The academic community has recently recognized how important it is for writers to become more sophisticated, knowledgeable, and skeptical about what they write. More than 50 institutions now offer training in science writing. In addition mid-career fellowships for science writers are growing, giving journalists the chance to return to major universities for specialized training. We applaud these developments, and hope to be part of them with this new edition of the Field Guide.In A Field Guide for Science Writers, 2nd Edition, the editors have assembled contributions from a collections of experienced journalists who are every bit as stellar as the group that contributed to the first edition. In the end, what we have are essays written by the very best in the science writing profession. These wonderful writers have written not only about style, but about content, too. These leaders in the profession describe how they work their way through the information glut to find the gems worth writing about. We also have chapters that provide the tools every good science writer how to use statistics, how to weigh the merits of conflicting studies in scientific literature, how to report about risk. And, ultimately, how to write.

Genres: Science, Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Journalism, Textbooks, Education

335 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 20, 1997

About the author

Deborah Blum is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author.

As a science writer for the Sacramento Bee, Blum (rhymes with gum) wrote a series of articles examining the professional, ethical, and emotional conflicts between scientists who use animals in their research and animal rights activists who oppose that research. Titled "The Monkey Wars", the series won the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting.

Reviews

[Atila Iamarino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente coletânea de textos sobre escrita científica, com um pouco de tudo, escrita por gente muito competente. De divulgação em revistas à relações públicas e crise em instituições. Também tem um pouco de escrita para internet, mas nada mais moderno.

[Mixeva Mohsen]

I wouldn't have ever touched it if I hadn't been a science editor!!!
But it is PERFECT!!!!! All you need to know about science writing!

[Asha Tenbroeke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on science writing i've read so far - really made a difference in how i approach writing and researching myself.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good information, but seems pretty outdated at this point.

[Book O Latte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buku ini berisi kumpulan artikel dari puluhan penulis sains, terbagi dalam beberapa bagian:
1. Getting Started, berisi tentang bagaimana bekerja sebagai penulis/reporter sains di suratkabar, majalah, jurnal perdagangan, jurnal ilmiah, televisi. Juga membahas tentang menulis buku sains (populer), bagaimana bekerjasama dengan ilmuwan (menjadi co-author buku), tentang komunikasi sains oleh ilmuwannya sendiri, dan tentang persoalan freelancing.
2. Techniques of the Trade, membahas berbagai hal yang berkaitan dengan teknik kepenulisan sains. Tentang struktur cerita, investigative journalism, pengambilan sumber, penggunaan data, statistik, dan penulisan opini.
3. Covering the Stories in Science, membahas penulisan sains di berbagai bidang, seperti kesehatan, psikologi, neurosains, lingkungan, fisika, astronomi, teknologi, dll.
4. Working Outside the Media, membahas penulisan/reportase sains di institusi pendidikan, pemerintahan, museum, laboratorium, lembaga non profit, dan industri.

-dydy-

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent advice on specific areas of science

[Martin Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I even had a network of contacts to develop, I would take the advice given in this book. If I had an editor, This would help me deal with him/her. If I didn't know that I really REALLY should check my sources, I would now know that.

The problem with this book is that it's written by science writers, and science writers are reporters and reporters are not very good sources on how to be reporters.

Still, it was free and I am grateful for it and I did learn from it, though not as much as I'd hoped I might.

[Margaret Taylor]

This is pretty exciting stuff, because it gets into the nuts and bolts of how one goes about writing about science. The book is divided into sections, one of which is about actually writing well, one about the peculiarities of certain fields such as medicine, and one about working in all the various print markets. Print markets. The biggest problem with this book is that it was published in 2006, and the written word has been through an upheaval since then. I’d recommend this book for the section on craft alone, but the ten pages on writing for the Web left me wanting more.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book for those considering a career in science writing. I appreciated the quality of each writer's contribution (great writing by seasoned science writers) and the breadth and depth of topics addressed. This book remains relevant even as science writing moves further into digital spheres.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is made up of chapters written by different people who write about their experiences in the publishing industry. Although I read this for a class, it was an interesting insight into how the publishing industry works

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm reading/analyzing this for my dissertation, so my take on it isn't likely to be useful to others.

[Doug · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was okay, less of a "how to" than a "here's what I do." Some compelling writing about writing in here, but a little too much personal narrative than examples and case studies.

[Mohamed Elsonpaty · Rating 5 out of 5]

just more than perfect !

[Chris]

Must read for science writers. Get the first edition and read that, too.

[Odette Brethouwer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very usefull and has lots of practical tips for science writers