🚨RIGHT NOW: How are science journalists working to separate good science from bad in these critical #COVID19 times? NASW colleagues @laurahelmuth @carlzimmer @HelenBranswell will represent our craft for a special Reddit discussion for the public! Log in:
reddit.com/r/science/comm…
reddit.com/r/science/comm…
📰About today's @reddit panelists: @laurahelmuth is the health and science editor for the @washingtonpost—and very soon to be the Editor-in-Chief of @sciam. Laura is also a past President of our National Association of Science Writers: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [2/n]
🩺About today's @reddit panelists: @HelenBranswell is senior writer at @statnews—and was given First Place for Beat Reporting for her 2017 body of work by the Association of Health Care Journalists (@healthreporters @AHCJ): reddit.com/r/science/comm… [3/n]
📚 About today's @reddit panelists: @carlzimmer is the science columnist for the @NYTScience—and most recently won our National Association of Science Writers 2019 Science in Society #SciWriAwards in the book category: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [4/n]
"As science journalists, we have to work with researchers to make sure that we convey accurate information that isn't overly technical, so that a broad audience can make use of it."—@carlzimmer now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [5/n]
"I think the public can help by pointing out to friends when information is reliable or not."—@carlzimmer now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [6/n]
"The Washington Post health and science reporters have covered several pre-prints, but we're being very cautious about how we do so."—@laurahelmuth right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [7/n]
"One of the biggest challenges during any disease outbreak, but especially this one, is getting good information to people and outcompeting misinformation and disinformation."—@laurahelmuth right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [8/n]
"No country's numbers are a true picture of the number of infections. There's too little testing and asymptomatic & mild cases are being missed."—@HelenBranswell right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [9/n]
"The way I learned is that doctors and researchers taught me. They gave me their time and answered my questions. I'm grateful to this day."—@HelenBranswell right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [10/n]
"Editors do have the power to change headlines, especially if people are understanding it in a way we didn't intend."—@laurahelmuth right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [11/n]
"When I work on a story about covid-19, I zero in on the information I need for that story rather than trying to vacuum up everything on Twitter... It's not just exhausting, but it leads to bad reporting."—@carlzimmer right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [12/n]
"The information flow at present is a tsunami. Tips: Read good science writers. Figure out what they're doing. Talk to the best people (sources) you can..."—@HelenBranswell right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [13/n]
"A free press is vital to providing the best information to the public--whether by explaining new scientific research or exposing bad actions by people in power."—@carlzimmer right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [14/n]
"I think it can be respectful to readers and defuse some frustration and confusion if we say more explicitly: what researcher do know today, why that's different from what they thought yesterday..."—@laurahelmuth right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [15/n]
"Early in a country (or state, or county or city)'s outbreak, having numbers and seeing how fast they are growing helps public health plan. But testing is still limited so even then, they are just estimates."—@HelenBranswell right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [16/n]
"A heap of technical details does not help people understand...My own strategy is to zero in on the most important message from a study, and then give a sense to readers of how researchers got to that conclusion."—@carlzimmer right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [17/n]
"If you lose local reporters, you lose the people who have spent decades understanding your community and its leaders."—@carlzimmer right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [18/n]
"You might check out the World Federation of Science Journalists. They just had a covid-19 briefing and have a collection of resources for journalists from around the world here."—@laurahelmuth right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… cc @WFSJ [19/n]
"Facts are facts. Deaths are deaths. People struggling to breath are people who may die. Virus doesn't care which way they vote."—@HelenBranswell right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [20/n]
"...I'd like to see more coverage of marginalized communities. The homeless, for instance. This is going to be devastating for that community."—@HelenBranswell right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [21/n]
"This is one of the biggest stories of our age. The Great Depression and World War II got lots of coverage as well, so this should be no different."—@carlzimmer right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [22/n]
"Many scientists and science writers have been warning about this for years, and we're clearly not well prepared. Once we've coped with this crisis, we have to do a far better job for the next one."—@carlzimmer right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [23/n]
"It's very, very hard right now. There's so much information flying out... It's a struggle. Not just for journalists. Doctors I've spoken too are finding it overwhelming."— @HelenBranswell right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [24/n]
"It's a huge challenge. Lots of health and science reporters have been working virtually nonstop for three months now... I spend a lot of my time as a manager-editor trying to get reporters to eat, sleep..."—@laurahelmuth right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [25/n]
"...at the Post we created and keep updating a style guide entry on what various coronavirus-related terms mean and guidance on how to use and define them within stories."—@laurahelmuth right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [26/n]
"Long before the covid-19 pandemic, I developed some guidelines out of my experience as a teacher: carlzimmer.com/science-writin… I hope they're useful to you."—@carlzimmer right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [27/n]
"We don't take anything at face value. We require governments and experts to justify their claims. But that doesn't mean that people should throw up their hands and believe nothing. That is downright dangerous."—@carlzimmer right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [28/n]
"I think it's heartening that most people are doing their part -- staying home, avoiding crowds...all those things that are fundamentals of public health that might save your own life and can definitely save others' lives."—@laurahelmuth on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [29/n]
"With two of my own kids, I know how you feel. It can help to focus on the things you can do... It will become less fraught. The unknown is indeed scary--but we are gaining knowledge every day."—@carlzimmer right now on @Reddit: reddit.com/r/science/comm… [30/n]
Grateful to all for participating in today's @reddit discussion on the dynamic state and human side of #COVID19 science news coverage right now. THANK YOU to NASW colleagues @laurahelmuth @carlzimmer @HelenBranswell for lending their precious time! reddit.com/r/science/comm… [31/33]
Today's @reddit discussion was an effort of our NASW Journalism Committee, esp. @BeeBrookshire @ErinEARoss and co-chairs @NidhiSubs @cragcrest. New to our National Association of Science Writers? Get to know us with a sample issue of #SciWriMag: nasw.org/publications/s… [32/33]
Are you a reporter hard at work on #COVID19 stories and seeking colleagues and support? Newly working science + health beats? NASW has free online resources for you: nasw.org/COVIDlist Ready to make the leap? We'd love to welcome you: nasw.org/membership-inf… 🗒️🎙️ 📺🙂[33/33]
(Now please do the honor and unroll this @ScienceWriters x @Reddit thread, @threadreaderapp 🤖! )
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