SCIENTIFIC WRITING FOR NEWSPAPER
Scientific
Writing for a Newspaper
INTRODUCTION
A
scientific writer needs to have only the good sense to recognize that
the work of any scientist or scientific community is worthy of
becoming a news. He/she even needs to have fallen into a deeply
satisfying kind of work, which he/she is doing, that is, science
writing.
PLANING OF SCIENTIFIC STORY
Like
any other news story even the scientific news story requires a
thorough planning before the write up becoming uploaded.
First
a writer needs to hunt for a worthy subject on which he/she is going
to write.
When
the hunting of subject search is over then come the research work on
the selected subject.
If
it is out of the scope and educational background of the writer, the
writer should plan an interview with subject matter expert to gain
certain amount of depth into the subject matter of the selected
topic.
Even
after doing the all above work it is not necessary that the topic is
worthy of being written for a newspaper. For any writing to occupy a
space on the newspaper it should definitely have a news angle
imbedded in it.
After
taking all the above-mention aspect into care before writing the
writer should take care that the write up should also be well
decorated for a mass appeal.
SOURCES OF A SCIENCE NEWS
Scientists
are the original source of scientific items for news writing. The
institutions and research organizations existing in the society are
also a good source of scientific news. Scientific news can also be
created out of scientific conferences, press releases and press
conferences, funding agencies in the medical world, scientific
journals, Government departments, independent organizations and
International organizations.
BUILDING BLOCKS OF SCIENCE NEWS
For
scientific news gathering of raw materials are done through research
paper and conference presentation. Now the list of people to be
interviewed is also prepared to develop the raw materials. Develop
appropriate questions for to be asked to the scientist to explain
main findings. If the interview with the scientist is not enough go
ahead and even talk to other experts who are more vocal in
communicating their work and development in the scientific world.
Always
give priority to talk to the author of the paper, which has been
already published and his/her work is in know of the public domain.
Even
communicate to the collaborating agencies to get the added sources of
the news. Questions and their clarification helps a lot in developing
the article or write ups because a science writer himself or herself
is not a scientist or expert of the selected topic.
Physical
libraries and virtual online sources add to the research work of the
scientific writer. One should always hold in mind that a science
communicator is a mediator between scientist and general public.
So,
a science writer should have a practice of being selective while
talking or writing so that incremental and qualitative work can be
done. Focus of work can definitely vary on the importance of the
things coming to the common people. The focus can either be methods
or result of any work. It can be outcome at some places and
futuristic aspect at the other. Sometime even the commercialization
front can also be the focus material.
CONCLUSION
Like
any other news article. The theory of simplicity comes into play even
with the scientific news. One should always highlight interesting
information. Do not overload the reader with information while
writing scientific news. Avoid too much explanation or academic
information of the work.
Deal
with all sides of a story. Mention the source but do not go into the
detailing of the source.
Finally
revise, re-read and improve your write ups.
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