Breaking In
Getting started in a new field can be intimidating. Fortunately, there are numerous resources for beginning science journalists to find answers to frequently asked questions and get tips from veterans in the field. Here you’ll find links to articles with advice for jumpstarting your career as a science journalist and to organizations dedicated to the craft of journalism, science and otherwise.
- “Careers in Science Writing.” In this 2009 video from the Council for Advancement of Science Writing, the late science writer David Perlman offers timeless advice to beginning science writers.
- “A Note to Beginning Science Writers.” Best-selling author Carl Zimmer offers advice to writers just starting out in the field, in an article in National Geographic.
- “New to Science Writing.” This is the landing page for The Open Notebook’s resources for beginning journalists. We’ve included several links to various pages on their site in this resource guide, and we also encourage you to explore the landing page on your own.
- “Ask TON: Breaking into Science Writing.” Established science writers offer tips for what to pitch when you’re first getting started.
- “Science Writing: Some Tips for Beginners.” Science writer Jim Austin answers some frequently asked questions about science writing and offers tips to beginning journalists.
Outlets to Follow:
- Nieman Lab. This website from the Nieman Foundation is dedicated to news about hot topics and advancements in journalism and digital media.
- The Open Notebook. This is a go-to science journalism resource with everything from an archive of successful pitches to tips on finding stories and negotiating freelance contracts.
- The Poynter Institute. With resources on ethics, fact checking, and media literacy, the Poynter Institute tackles big questions about how to use journalism to serve the public interest.
- Columbia Journalism Review. Here, you’ll find analyses of media coverage and resources for responsible journalism.
