2. Finding and judging science stories (by Julie Clayton)
2.1 Introduction

As a science journalist, you are faced with two options: wait for stories to come to you, or go out and find some.

If you wait for stories to come to you, perhaps via press releases, you may have a good selection to choose from, but it is also likely that the rest of the science media pack have the same story.

Going out to find your own stories requires more work, but ultimately can be more satisfying if it means you can find something more unusual – an exclusive, perhaps. And especially for journalists working in developing countries, this may be the only way to find out what research is going on in your region.

Also if you are working for a certain news outlet for the first time, it certainly is a good idea to come up with a story that nobody else has. It does not have to be a big scoop – a small but sound story can be enough to get started.

This online lesson is aimed at journalists, particularly in developing countries, who wish to enhance their skills for finding and judging the sources of science stories.

By the end of the lesson, you will be more familiar with a wide range of story sources, including internet sources, and will have considered key criteria in judging the importance of a story, the validity of a claim, and the credibility of a scientist.


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