SjCOOP

Peer-to-Peer Mentoring in Science Journalism

Read the SjCOOP Final Report

The SjCOOP Project has two main objectives: the mentoring of science journalists, and the
establishment and support of associations of science journalists, in Africa and the Middle East.
Mentoring

The SjCOOP mentoring program brings 60 aspiring science journalists from some 30 countries in Africa and the Middle together with 16 experienced science journalists from Africa, America, Europe and the Middle East. There are three groups: English-speaking Africa, the Middle East, and French-speaking Africa. The work of mentors is coordinated by three regional coordinators, respectively based in Abuja (Nigeria), Yaoundé (Cameroon) and in Cairo (Egypt). Mentoring is done at a distance, mainly via a dedicated WFSJ website, emails, as well as Skype and telephone. Mentors assist with all aspects of the work of a science journalist: identifying good stories and sources, commenting on writing and editing, finding outlets for freelancing, as well as advising on career moves and how to manage editors. At least once a year, during the two years of the program, participants meet face-to-face, the meeting of mentors and mentees taking place around a field visit or a major scientific conference. The first such meeting was held during the U.N. Climate Summit in Nairobi in November 2006. Numerous activities and strategies are required to support distance mentoring. Mentees can benefit from an 8 lesson online course in science journalism. Mentees appreciate exchanges with other colleagues and mentors. Several mentees have found new freelancing opportunities thanks to the contacts of their mentors. Some have won scholarships. Several groups of mentees have also had the opportunity to attend conferences, travel for field trips in other countries and meet as groups. SjCOOP began with a one-week training workshop for mentors in Munich, Germany, in July 2006. The mentoring itself started in September 2006 and it is expected to end in September 2008. WFSJ hopes to replicate SjCOOP in other regions of the world.

Supporting associations

Another SjCOOP component is support for the establishment of associations of science journalists. This is mainly done through the twinning of young associations of science journalists with long-established ones. The young Arab Science Journalists Association has been twinned with the National Association of Science Writers in the United States; Cameroon has been twinned with France's Association des journalistes scientifiques de la presse d'information, Kenya with the Canadian Science Writers' Association, Nigeria with Germany's Journalists' Association for Technical-Scientific Communication, and
Uganda with the Association of British Science Writers. Thanks to SjCOOP, the World Federation of Science Journalists has supported the participation of some 30 representatives from new and long established associations to attend the 5th World Conference of Science Journalists in Melbourne, Australia, April 2007.

Publications

Within the SjCOOP Project, the World Federation of Science Journalists is publishing guides and handbooks: Setting up Your Own Science Journalists Association, A Guide to Peer-to-Peer Mentorship in Science Journalism, and Science Journalist Associations 2007, all available online here.

Introduction Française au projet SjCOOP

This project is funded by:

International Development Research Centre (Canada)
Department for International Development (UK)
Swedish International Development Agency (Sweden)

SjCOOP

Peer-to-Peer Mentoring in Science Journalism

Supporting associations

Publications

This project is funded by:

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