"The veteran journalist Tim Radford, who headed up the science desk at the UK's Guardian newspaper for more than two decades, was once interviewed by a government committee charged with investigating the fragile relationship between "science and society." In a lengthy report submitted to the House of Lords in February, 2000, the committee noted that the public's faith in both science and government had been shaken over the preceding years - in part by an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, colloquially known as "mad cow disease." This and the swift rise of biotechnology, the burgeoning internet age, and other fast-moving manifestations of human ingenuity, it was determined, were creating an air of anxiety and mistrust"--
A Tactical Guide to Science Journalism brings together award-winning journalists from around the world to share fascinating tales of science and how it works and to provide guidance into reporting specialties like infectious disease, climate change, astronomy, public health, physics, and statistics. From practical advice on finding sources and distilling complex research subjects for a general audience, to tips on how to cover science in authoritarian regimes, the book serves as an essential survey of the best in science reporting today--and a testament to the importance of independent journalistic inquiry in understanding research and building trust with audiences. Drawing insights from writers based at publications including The New York Times, the BBC, The Washington Post, Science, The New Yorker, National Geographic and more, this guide is designed to help journalists everywhere improve their craft and serve as a valuable resource for those seeking to understand the
profession at its best.
