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News

SJAA event: online speed-mentoring for early career/student science journalists

Amidst the current flux in the media industry, and the difficulties brought about by the pandemic, breaking into science journalism or landing your next job might feel a little tricky.
If you’re a student, an early career science journalist, or a freelancer, this informal, members-only, online speed-mentoring session is for you. Join us, bring a beverage, and we’ll set you up for 10 min rotations through Zoom breakout rooms to ask some of SJAA’s established freelancers and journalists how they got their start and built momentum. This is also a great opportunity to meet some of the other early career science journalists in the community.
The session will be hosted by ABC’s Carl Smith, and our mentors are freelance science journalists Dyani Lewis and Bianca Nogrady, and science and medical journalist Ruby Prosser Scully.

This event will be held on Thursday 4 June at 5.30pm. It’s a free, members-only event, so if you’re interested, join SJAA now to take part!

Categories
News

SJAA elects new committee

The Science Journalists Association of Australia is delighted to introduce its newly-elected committee, who will steer the organisation for the next year:

Bianca Nogrady – president
Nicky Phillips – treasurer
Sara Phillips – secretary
Neena Bhandari
Dyani Lewis
Natasha Mitchell
Fran Molloy
Ruby Prosser Scully
Carl Smith
Michelle Starr

Categories
Events

SJAA event: FOI requesting, or how to ‘keep the bastards honest’

What really goes on behind the closed doors of politicians’ offices or in the locked filing cabinets of government departments? Many spectacular and impactful works of journalism have been built around these gleaming pearls of information, and Freedom of Information (FOI) laws are the oyster knife that journalists can use to prise them out.

The Australian Freedom of Information Act gives citizens the right to access documents from Australian government ministers and most Australian government agencies. It’s also an essential tool for journalists to winkle out important information that might otherwise not see the light of day; information on government policies, programs, data, and decision-making processes.

Join Michael Slezak, ABC national science, technology and environment reporter, and Lyn Kemmis, senior lawyer at SBS, as they talk about their considerable experience with FOI, how FOI requests can be made, what they can uncover, what are the challenges and limitations, and how FOI laws and regulations work.

The one-hour webinar will be held on Wednesday 26 February at 7pm, moderated by SJAA president Bianca Nogrady, and there will be up to half an hour for questions at the end. This free event is for SJAA members only. If you’re a member, look for the link in the SJAA newsletter, Slack or Facebook group . If you’re not a member yet and you’re interested in attending, join us!

Categories
Fellowships

Marine Biological Laboratory Logan Science Journalism program – applications invited.

Happy new year everyone! Kicking 2020 off with a call for applicants for the Marine Biological Laboratory Logan Science Journalism program in Chicago.

This offers ” professional science journalists, writers, editors, and broadcast journalists a chance to forget about story deadlines and immerse themselves in the process of basic biomedical and environmental research.” There are two intensive ten-day programs – one in biomedical research and one in environmental research – and the fellowship covers accommodation, course fees, and travel expenses. International applicants are welcome, and applicants are due February 24, 2020. Details are here.

Categories
Events Resources

2019 World Conference of Science Journalists videos now online

Videos of sessions from the recent World Conference of Science Journalists in Lausanne, Switzerland – held in July – are now available online for anyone to watch. Sessions include investigative methods for science journalists, escaping the ‘balance trap’, and reporting on scientific fraud.

Categories
Fellowships

Early-career fellowships at The Open Notebook

The Open Notebook/Burroughs Wellcome Fund fellowship for early-career science writers (less than two years’ writing experience) is open for the next two rounds of the fellowship, from January 2, 2020 – August 31, 2020 and July 1, 2020 – February 28, 2021.

The eight-month fellowship is remote and part-time. Fellows will report and write six articles for publication at The Open Notebook with the guidance of a mentor who will help shape story ideas, provide reporting and writing guidance, edit final copy, and offer career-development mentoring. Fellows and mentors will also be part of a professional discussion group composed of former fellowship participants and TON editors. Each fellow will receive a stipend of US$4,200.

More details and application form is here. Entries are due by October 20, 2019.

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Uncategorized

Griffith Review reportage project

The Griffith Review is now accepting submissions for its reportage project, which will provide the opportunity for three writers to complete a 7,500-word (approximate) piece for publication in a 2020 or 2021 edition of Griffith Review, with a $7500 fee and modest budget for travel and/or research.

The project is looking for “sustained, original investigations from established writers who seek an opportunity to fully explore a complex story that demands to be told.” The article must fit with either one of Griffith Review’s upcoming themes, or their enduring themes of gender, sustainability (in all its forms), policy, environment and culture.

Applicants must have an established publication record and submit a comprehensive project outline as well as examples of published work. Entries are due by 5pm, Sunday 22 September. More information and the submission portal are here.

Categories
Awards

RANZCOG media awards open for entries

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists annual media awards are open for entries. The awards honour “accurate reporting on women’s health matters”, and are open to any print, radio, television or online story published/aired in Australia or New Zealand between 1 August 2018 and 30 July 2019. More details here.

Categories
Fellowships

Scribe Varuna residency for science/history non-fiction manuscript

If you have a non-fiction science, micro-history or history manuscript hiding in your top drawer, here’s the chance to bring it forth and give it life. Varuna – the writers’ house in Katoomba – is partnering with independent press Scribe Publications to offer a week-long, publishing-intensive mentorship and residency.
“The residency includes manuscript feedback and meetings with Scribe editorial staff, independent writing time in your own private writing studio, accommodation and meals. Scribe editors live with the writers at Varuna, and meet with each writer at the beginning and end of the week to discuss your project. Evenings offer the opportunity to meet with other writers and the Scribe editors over dinner to chat about publishing and writing.” Details about how to apply are here and applications are due by August 11.

Categories
Awards

Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for Young Science Journalists

The entry window for the Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for Young Science Journalists, awarded by the US-based Council for the Advancement of Science Writing, closes on June 30. This award is “intended to encourage young science writers by recognizing outstanding reporting and writing in any field of science.” Applicants must aged under 30 years, and the prize includes US$1000 and expenses to attend a science writing conference in the US. The award is open to international journalists but preferably ones that are writing in international or US publications, and there is an upper limit on travel expenses. The entry window closes June 30 and details are here.