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REGIONAL GROUPSby Suzanne Clancy Washington, DCDecember’s jazz-flavored holiday party brought DCSWA members to the newly opened City Museum of Washington, DC. The museum was both a great site for 90 DCSWAns to gather and an introduction to a view of Washington beyond the white marble facades of Capitol Hill. In January, a professional-development event featured new ways of looking at that journalistic standby: the interview. “Most people love to talk about themselves if they feel safe, not judged, and see that you care about what they’re saying,” said Daniel Zwerdling, of National Public Radio. The event, held at NPR’s Washington headquarters, was co-sponsored by DCSWA and SPJ-The Society for Professional Journalists. Other panelists included an anthropologist and a DC homicide detective. Now here’s someone who knows what its like to interview someone who really doesn’t want to say anything! “You never bring anybody good news and nobody wants to talk to you,” said detective Jim Trainum. “You have to be a combination salesman, con artist, and reporter, and quickly develop personal relationship to get them relaxed. I can’t get people to talk to me unless I get them to listen to me.” New EnglandMore than 40 people braved sub-arctic weather in January to hear five Boston-based editors speak frankly about how freelance writers can break into new publications, including the most successful query strategies, types of articles and ideas, and top mistakes to avoid. Eugenie Samuel Reich, physics and technology features editor at New Scientist, organized and participated in the panel, which also included Herb Brody, deputy editor of Technology Review; Kevin Davies, editor-in-chief of Bio-IT World; Bob Naeye, senior editor of Sky & Telescope; Douglas Most, new editor of the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine; and Carol Cruzan Morton, freelance writer, who acted as moderator. Puget SoundThe 2004 science writers’ party in Seattle, sponsored by the Puget Sound Science Writers Association, was by all accounts a great success. An estimated 350 people attended the dance-and-dinner event held at one of the Emerald City’s most popular downtown nightclubs, the Fenix Underground. The Fenix, newly resurrected after its destruction in the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake, gave revelers the opportunity to celebrate an early Mardi Gras. Spicy creole food mixed nicely with a local rockabilly band, the Dusty 45s, for a hot time in the city. For the hipper set—or those who believe they are—a DJ downstairs offered house and techno music. The local science writers group found 17 sponsors, led by Microsoft Research, who generously supported the good time. For more information about the party or the Puget Sound Science Writers Association, see www.psswa.org/index.htm. # Suzanne Clancy is a science writer with The Burnham Institute in La Jolla, CA. Send information about regional meetings and events to sclancy@burnham.org. |
