The COVID-19 pandemic pushed science journalists into a long, intense news cycle and increased public attention to their work. In response, the Science Journalism Forum (30 August—2 September) will bring journalists and editors together online to present and discuss issues in five languages. This year’s conference is fully virtual and aims to strengthen professional connections and practical skills, with particular attention to developing nations.
Deborah Blum, director of the Knight Science Journalism Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will deliver a keynote titled "12 Lessons for Science Journalists from the Pandemic." She argues that the pandemic posed special challenges because scientific knowledge changed in real time and some groups used that uncertainty against reporters. The science journalism community worked to provide reliable information, and Blum stresses the need to navigate uncertainty and to do careful fact-checking before publication.
Blum also highlights cross-border reporting as a strength. The Latin American project Historias sin Fronteras brought reporters from several countries together to cover stories that cross borders, including COVID, transgender medicine and the destruction of the Amazon. One investigation of an Amazonian highway, published in Spanish or Portuguese, was later picked up by National Geographic, showing how local reporting can gain wider attention.
The KSJ Program supports international journalists through its global fellowship and free virtual training, including a science editing workshop and a fact-checking workshop. For the June fact-checking course, 400 people applied and 200 were accepted; participants came from more than 40 countries, with many from Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and some joined sessions at 2am in their time zones. Blum says the pandemic has put science journalism centre stage and that this effect is likely to last, but she warned the field must maintain standards: "Unless we screw it up." She will speak at the forum on 1 September.
Difficult words
- news cycle — period of intense media coverage
- virtual — done or existing on the internet
- navigate — manage or deal with a difficult situation
- fact-check — verify whether information is truefact-checking
- cross-border reporting — journalism about stories across national borders
- fellowship — paid or unpaid support for a professional
- investigation — careful inquiry to find facts about something
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can cross-border reporting help local stories gain wider attention? Give examples from the article or your own experience.
- What challenges do journalists face when scientific knowledge changes quickly, and how can they handle those challenges?
- Do you think virtual conferences and free online training help journalists in developing nations? Why or why not?
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