Greetings from Cloud Nine. Now I know how Deborah Blum, Ron Kotulak, Phil Boffey, Natalie Angier and so many other NASWers have felt. Hey, guys, how long does this Pulitzer high last?
Possibly because of my current dancing-in-the-clouds state of mind, I'm seeing NASW affairs in a particularly rosy light. But fair is fair: All seems to be right in the NASW world.
The Seattle folks are already working hard to make next year's symposium and party wonderful events. Anyone interested in helping out or offering ideas, particularly for the symposium, should contact Paul Lowenberg at 206-543-2580 or paulow@uwashington.edu.
Our cyber options are also developing nicely, as the users of NASW On-line have no doubt noticed. Larry Krumenaker has designed a nice web page for NASW that is in the AAAS's EurekAlert on the World Wide Web, which Joe Palca describes elsewhere in this issue. And the CompuServe space continues to attract an avid crowd of users. I foresee no obstacles.
Our cyber-members helped bring several issues to the rapid attention of NASW officers, prompting swift organizational response. The first concerned contracts to freelancers writing for Science: The journal has agreed to back off on limits to writers for electronic rights and a clause that would have saddled freelancers with full liability burden.
I fired off an angry note to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons after reading the appalling ASPS letter to reporters concerning the group's annual conference (held April 29): No reporter access to scientific sessions would be permitted. Reporters were to remain in the newsroom where they would be spoon-fed info at the discretion of ASPS staff. What's next--keeping us in cages? The alleged rationale for the policy is patient confidentiality (as in, "We wouldn't want you to see before-and-after photos of our clients").This is clearly off-the-wall because we have all covered medical meetings for decades wherein patient slides--even videos--were shown and we have behaved responsibly.
We've protested. Now we'll see whether they try to pull these hi-jinks next year. If so, I personally advocate a press boycott.
The other good news concerns A Field Guide for Science Writers, edited by Deborah Blum and Mary Knudson. More than 30 NASW members contributed chapters to the book, which is on schedule for publication next year by Oxford Press. And here's the kicker: Carl Sagan wrote the introduction, waiving his fees and royalties.
Also on track are NASW Officer and Board elections. In this issue are candidates' statements. There's still time to throw your hat in the ring, too; all it takes are 20 NASW members' signatures to qualify. If you're serious, gather your petitions and let Diane McGurgan know ASAP.
I have only two pieces of sad news to report. As noted in the last issue of ScienceWriters, the National Cancer Institute decided to start charging reporters for its monthly newsletter/journal. (And it ain't cheap.) We protested. They didn't care. (Personally, I've decided to go back to basing my NCI reporting on rumors and tips--to heck with the official-speak. Why pay to read the party line?)
Far sadder was the loss of Walter Sullivan. For more than five decades, Sullivan set a standard for adventure and writing at The New York Times that spawned a whole generation of avid science writers and readers. I have never met anyone who took such extraordinary delight in his work. He will be sorely missed.
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Laurie Garrett can be reached at the New York City office of Newsday, 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016; Tel: 212-251-6875.