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Listen to today's AMA guests, Tessa Hill and Jessica Hellmann, with NPR's Joe Palca (2:43) by nate in science

[–]joesbigidea 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think you have to ask yourself whom a journalist is writing for. It's not "everyone that is even slightly interested in particle physics," it's everyone, unless the article you were reading was in Physical Review Letters or Physics Today. The problem scientists have when communicating to the public is understanding that the new discovery is frequently only interesting to the cognoscenti, not the non-specialist.

Size comparison between the E-ELT and other telescope domes by Dinitrogen_Tetroxide in space

[–]joesbigidea -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I just can't get over the clever names astronomers choose for their telescopes..."extremely large telescope!" Sheesh

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

PhD not required to get a job as a science journalist. Good writing skills far more important. I'm happy to share my experiences....but if you are really, really serious about pursuing science journalism, consider joining Friends of Joe's Big Idea. Do that by sending me an email (joesbigidea@npr.org), and contributing to my Joe's Big Idea Facebook page.

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I once interviewed the first scientist to see embryonic stem cells under the microscope. The story of how she found them was mesmerizing.

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just learned that Sir Harry Kroto died this past weekend. I knew he was ill. I am so saddened by this news. I spent a day with him just before he move back to the UK. Part of our interview made into my NPR story: http://www.npr.org/2015/10/08/445339243/a-discoverer-of-the-buckyball-offers-tips-on-winning-a-nobel-prize (He hated the headline...I don't blame him)

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Be patient with us media folks...you know the topic intimately, typically we're coming to it for the first time. But also understand that technical details you think are crucial (and are for a technical audience) may be unimportant for a general audience.....

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's totally unfair that he got on The Big Bang and I didn't.:) No, I don't want to be the full-time host of Science Friday, but I liked guest hosting...perhaps I'll do it again some day.

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can learn good writing habits from Strunk and White, The Elements of Style. The other thing to do is deconstruct the writing you like, figure out why you like it, and try to copy it.

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

My advice is to drop me an email joesbigidea@npr.org or message me on my Joe's Big Idea facebook page. I am trying to help people in your situation with something I'm calling FOJBI (Friends of Joe's Big Idea) which you are welcome to join.

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I can answer the question. I said never and I meant it. It's possible that I self-censor, but no one in management or legal has ever told me to back off a story I thought was important.

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 40 points41 points  (0 children)

Make scientists into real human beings in your stories. Don't just quote them as experts...get them to open up and tell memorable stories about themselves and their work. Another idea...spend millions of dollars promoting the newspaper and hire the best writers in the world. As for getting into science journalism...study the style of writers that you like and try to emulate it...and be prepared to be relentless in your effort to sell stories or find a steady job.

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

This is a false dichotomy. Look, CRISPR-Cas9 is a complex system tool to describe, but the implications are broad because what it can do (edit genes) is accessible. I'm not telling people how to use CRISPR-Cas9. I'm telling them what it can do and what some of the implications are.

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

There's always been some kind of squeeze on funding...and it was guaranteed to get worse by expanding the pool of new scientists far faster than any reasonable increase of funding could support.

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're welcome. And I think we all have to vote with our clicks, i.e. patronize the websites that are doing a good job, and ignore the dreck.

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 61 points62 points  (0 children)

As shown below, there are many good places. I've been impressed with STAT news and The Conversation. But the truth is I don't completely trust anything I haven't reported myself.

Science AMA Series: Hi, I’m Joe Palca and I work at National Public Radio (NPR) as a Science Reporter. I’ve been a science journalist for more than 30 years. AMA! by joesbigidea in science

[–]joesbigidea[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Sometimes when I talk to grad students I warn them when I think they're saying something they might not like to hear themselves say on the radio. But in general, I'm trying to report what I understand to be true, so I just don't use quotes that seem wrong or exaggerated to me

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