Science journalists debate: What makes a good story from their point of view? How are current events influencing science journalism and societies’ conversations? What are the challenges and opportunities today and how are they changing?

Following a moderated discussion to provide insights and context, scientists will be invited to pitch a story idea to the panel of journalists. The journalists will provide feedback and reactions: What did they like? What would they want to know more about? Where would they go with the story and what would they want to know next? This is an opportunity learn what journalists look for in a science story, whether you take the mic or just listen and learn.

Moderator:

Nancy Baron is the Director of Science Outreach for COMPASS. Nancy holds workshops around the world for academic, government, and NGO scientists helping them develop core competencies as scientist communicators who want to make their work relevant to journalists, policy makers, and the public. Nancy began her career as a biologist in Banff National Park, spent 6 years as Director of Education at the Vancouver Aquarium, then morphed into journalism. She has won numerous writing awards including the Canadian Science Writers Science in Society and National Magazine awards. An ardent naturalist, she published a popular field guide, The Birds of Coastal British Columbia (Lone Pine Publishing) and a “how to” communications guide book for scientists titled Escape from the Ivory Tower (Island Press). Nancy received the 2013 Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in the Media for her work at the intersection of science and journalism.

Journalists:

David Malakoff is a Deputy News Editor specializing in coverage of science policy, energy and the environment. A native of Washington D.C., he has spent more than 25 years reporting on how scientists influence government policy, and how government policy shapes science. In addition to reporting for Science, he has worked as an editor and correspondent on NPR’s Science Desk, for Conservation Magazine, and as a freelancer for numerous outlets.

Grace Hood is an Environmental Reporter at Colorado Public Radio who investigates energy and environment topics in Colorado. She is drawn to people with compelling stories. Whether it’s tracking down a hidden monument on Forest Service land or following scientists as they count birds with drones, her passion is finding stories that are surprising. If she’s really successful, maybe you’ll think about something in a different way. Grace began her career as a reporter at the Boulder Weekly. Before entering journalism, she was a history major at Bryn Mawr College. Her reporting has been recognized by the Associated Press, Society for Professional Journalists and RTDNA.

Hillary Rosner is an independent journalist based in Boulder, Colorado, and a 2018-19 Scripps Fellow at the University of Colorado’s Center for Environmental Journalism. She writes for National Geographic, Wired, Scientific American, The New York Times, High Country News, and many other publications, and she is an editor at the website bioGraphic. Her stories on conservation and environmental issues have garnered many awards, including two AAAS-Kavli Science Journalism Awards. Hillary holds an MS in environmental studies from the University of Colorado and an MFA in creative writing from New York University. Before moving to Colorado, she worked as a writer and editor at many media outlets, including The Village Voice, the New York Post, and New York Magazine.

Jeff Burnside is a veteran TV news investigative reporter with a focus on environmental issues. He was a 2017-2018 Scripps Journalism Fellow at the Center for Environmental Journalism, University of Colorado in Boulder. He is the immediate past president and current board member for the Society of Environmental Journalists. He’s been a reporter for more than 20 years working as an investigative reporter, general assignment reporter, executive producer and segment producer at high profile stations including KING Seaile, WTVJ Miami and most recently as Senior Investigative Reporter for KOMO 4 News Seaile.

Katie Langin is the associate editor for the Careers section of Science Magazine. She holds a Ph.D. in ecology from Colorado State University and was a member of the inaugural cohort of SoGES Sustainability Leadership Fellows in 2011-2012. Her first taste of journalism was at National Geographic, where she joined the newsroom as a AAAS Mass Media Fellow. She also completed a journalism internship at Science before joining the magazine’s news team more permanently. She teleworks from Fort Collins.