A Guide To Careers in Science Writing

Of all the journalism professions, science writing may well be the most challenging and rewarding. Science writers are responsible for covering fields that are experiencing some of the most rapid advances in history, from the stunning advances in biotechnology to the exotic discoveries in astrophysics. A science writer's week may include coverage of new discoveries about viruses, the brain, evolution, artificial intelligence, planets around other suns, and the global environment, to name only a few topics.

Science writers not only must meet daily challenges of accurately translating the often arcane and complex news of such discoveries into lay language. In many cases, their reporting must also attempt to objectively put those discoveries into historical, personal, political, economic, and social context. For example, while science writers have traditionally been faced with balancing the conflicting opinions of scientific experts, they must now include the influence of potential financial implications of scientific discoveries in their reporting equations, especially in biotechnology.

Science writers' work is important because they remain the chief conduit between scientists and the public. Their reporting not only can bring exciting news of remarkable scientific achievements, but also inform the public about critical issues to aid public debate on areas of science involving ethics and policy questions, for example. Science writers also provide the scientific background on breaking news from earthquakes to oil spills and alert the public to medical and environmental dangers.

Who Are Science Writers?

There are two basic types of science writers science journalists and science public information officers (PIOs).

Science journalists may work for newspapers, wire services, magazines, book publishers, radio and television stations, and Internet news services. These media outlets may be either commercial, such as the local daily newspaper, or non-profit, such as scientific societies that produce magazines, newsletters and internet news services.

While many science journalists write for the lay public, many also write for professional audiences, such as scientists, physicians, and engineers. Also, while many science journalists may be full-time staff writers for their organizations, many others may be free-lancers, paid by the story or the book.

A distinction should be made between science journalists and environmental journalists. While science journalists may write about environmental research, they do not usually cover environmental regulations or pollution. Science journalists are also different from technical writers, who prepare such materials as instruction manuals or reports on new technologies for trade magazines.

Science PIOs may work for universities, private research foundations, government agencies and laboratories, science museums, high-technology corporations and non-profit science and health organizations. The chief duties of science PIOs include preparing news releases and other materials explaining research at their institutions and aiding science journalists in preparing stories on that research. However, with the explosive growth of the Internet, science PIOs are increasingly producing materials aimed at directly reaching the public with information about their institutions' research.

What Do Science Writers Do?

Science journalists for print media write news articles on new scientific discoveries, as well as feature articles that offer a broader perspective on science, often including the personalities and process behind scientific discoveries. Radio and television science journalists produce the same kinds of stories as scripts but, of course, emphasize the use of audio and visual images. Book authors produce the most in-depth science reporting, devoting often years of work and hundreds of thousands of words to explaining their topics. The rise of Internet news has brought with it an increase in multimedia reporting that may integrate text, sound, images and graphics to convey research news.

Science PIOs most often produce news and feature releases explaining research findings at their institution. Such releases differ from news articles in that they commonly offer only the perspective of the PIOs own institution. Such materials are also frequently more detailed than a news article, since the releases must contain information meant for a wide range of science writers. Besides news releases, science PIOs may also produce news and feature articles for institutional magazines, radio and television scripts, speeches, web copy and brochure copy. They may also oversee production of radio spots, video news releases, and web sites covering research at their institutions. Finally, science PIOs oversee distribution of their informational materials to the media and handle media inquiries about their releases.

How Do Science Writers Get Their Stories?

Science journalists typically sift through masses of information to decide which stories are most significant to their audience. For example, for newspaper science writers, local science stories may take precedence over national stories. And for magazine science writers, stories in the particular field covered by their magazine may be judged more important for their readers.

In gathering information for stories, science writers read scientific journals and professional science magazines, news releases, government records, electronic mail, chat group postings, and faxes from news sources. They also attend scientific meetings, news conferences and breaking news events in science, and maintain contact with helpful scientists and other workers in their field of interest to learn of possible advances. Sometimes, science journalists accompany scientific expeditions, writing in-depth accounts of the discovery process. The most important activity in developing a news story, however, is interviewing scientists who have made a scientific discovery.

While science writers at smaller media may cover a wide range of science, those at larger newspapers or magazines may have narrower "beats," for example biotechnology or astronomy.

Science PIOs use many of the same techniques for gathering information on possible stories, but concentrate on researchers at their own institutions or the field covered by their special-interest organization.

How Do I Know If I Should Become a Science Writer?

By far the most important qualities needed by a prospective science writer are a fascination with science and a talent for writing clearly, accurately and with an interesting flair. Science writers must also possess a drive to continue learning throughout their professional lives, because unlike the case in many journalism specialties, each new science story can present new concepts and a new vocabulary to master. Also, like other journalists and PIOs, science writers will also increasingly have to learn to work in multimedia, using text, graphics, video and audio to communicate their stories.

Successful science writers have come from the ranks of both science and of journalism majors in college, with each gaining the complementary knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career. For example, science majors must learn the reporting and writing skills necessary to pursue a story, and journalism majors must understand scientific concepts and terms and the scientific method.

Also, some science writers come from the ranks of professional working scientists, who complement their research with communicating to the public about their fields through lay-level articles, columns and lay-level science books.

Science writers often face particular challenges and frustrations that may affect their choice of a career in the field. For science journalists, while the frequent travel and daily deadlines of newspaper science writing may be glamorous and exciting at first, they may wear thin over time. And for science PIOs, navigating the sometimes complicated politics inherent in the large organizations for which they work may become frustrating.

Fortunately, science writing careers also provide many relief valves for such frustrations. For example, both science journalists and PIOs may spin their expertise into books and other freelance assignments. Also, science writers may take advantage of mid-career journalism fellowships and workshops at universities and other scientific institutions to escape deadlines for a while and explore new fields.

How Much Money Do Science Writers Make?

The salary range for science writers can be large, given that it includes entry-level positions in local media up to senior-level positions in national media and requiring decades of experience.

For journalism school graduates in entry-level general assignment reporters' jobs, starting salaries typically begin at less than $20,000 per year at smaller newspapers, up to $30,000 a year at larger newspapers. The higher starting salary is more likely for journalists with specialized master's degrees in science writing, who begin as science writers at larger newspapers. Experienced science writers and editors at major newspapers may make more than $60,000 a year.

Magazine staff science writers may start at slightly better salaries of around $30,000 per year, ranging to $100,000 per year for experienced senior correspondents and editors at national magazines.

In radio and television news and documentary production, entry-level general assignment positions may start at less than $20,000, reaching more than $100,000 a year for network television science news and documentary reporters or producers. However, few science writers work in electronic media, compared to print media.

Salaries for new media, so-called "content producers" for web sites tend to be somewhat higher than those for print journalists, with beginning salaries around $35,000. Given the short history of the Internet, however, there are few reliable statistics on salaries overall.

Freelance science journalists who receive assignments on an individual basis, rather than working as full-time staff writers -- are undoubtedly the most poorly paid science writers. They usually earn about $1.00 per word for magazine articles and even less for newspaper articles. A 3,000-word magazine article may take a month to produce, and one such article per month translates into a $36,000 annual salary for an experienced freelancer. Thus, freelancers may either juggle a great many assignments to make ends meet, may hold a staff job and freelance on the side, or may have a supporting spouse.

Similarly, authors of science books usually hold down other staff writing jobs, although science books are perennially among the best sellers. Despite occasional six-figure advances for major books, authors earn an average advances on royalties of between $5,000 and $25,000.. However, science writers who are committed to writing many books and establishing a reputation can earn a living at it.

For science PIO jobs, salaries may range from $40,000 per year for entry-level science writers, to $100,000 or more for directors of science communications offices at major institutions, such as research universities, foundations and national laboratories.

How Do I Get Started in Science Writing?

A college degree is a must, whether it be in science or journalism. Aspiring science writers should consider taking courses that complement their majors with journalism majors taking survey courses in science, and science majors taking journalism courses. Also, many colleges and universities offer specialized courses in science writing. Again, science writing for the lay public is different from technical writing, and one should make sure that a college course is the former and not the latter before signing up for it.

One especially good way to discover whether science writing is a desirable career possibility is to write science stories for school newspapers and magazines while in college. Also, university news office will often take on undergraduates as science writing interns, and local newspapers may hire students as freelance "stringers."

Any student who contemplates a career in science writing should also join the National Association of Science Writers as a student member. Such a membership offers invaluable benefits including the NASW newsletter ScienceWriters and access to, the membership section of the NASW web site (http://www.nasw.org).

For those who already have a college degree, there are many graduate programs in science writing that can offer specialized training. (See the reference section for information on a survey of science writing courses and programs.)

Regardless of academic preparation, however, getting started in science writing means reading omnivorously about science in newspapers and in magazines such as Scientific American, Science, Discover, Popular Science and Science News.

Launching a career in newspaper science journalism may mean a first job as a general assignment reporter, perhaps at a smaller newspaper or radio or television station. As illustrated in the section on salaries, entry-level salaries for such positions are notoriously low, especially compared with opportunities in fields such as engineering or business. However, as a new reporter gains experience, editors will be willing to give the opportunity to specialize in science. And with such experience will come the chance to move up as a science writer at a larger newspaper or a national magazine, with a higher salary.

A career as a science PIO may begin with an entry-level job as a science writer in a public information office, advancing to a senior science writing position or directorship with more experience.

In any case, the job listings in the NASW newsletter and on the web site offer a good start on a hunt for contacts, internships and jobs. Also, NASW members are quite willing to offer aspiring science writers advice and help. Many areas have local NASW chapters, and contact information is available on the NASW web site.

References

Blum, Deborah and Mary Knudson, eds., A Field Guide for Science Writers: The Official Guide of the National Association of Science Writers , Oxford University Press, 1997.

Communicating Science News: A Guide for Public Information Officers, Scientists and Physicians , available from the NASW for $7.

Directory of Science Communications Courses and Programs in the United States , compiled by Sharon Dunwoody, Elizabeth Crane and Bonnie Brown. To order, contact Sharon Dunwoody at Center for Environmental Communication and Education Studies, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 821 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706. E- mail dunwoody@facstaff.wisc.edu.