Complete Science Communication: A Guide to Connecting with Scientists, Journalists and the Public
2: Writing Science Through the Tenets of Journalism
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Published:22 Oct 2018
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Special Collection: RSC eTextbook CollectionProduct Type: Textbooks
Complete Science Communication: A Guide to Connecting with Scientists, Journalists and the Public, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2018, pp. 12-36.
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One of the main themes of this text is that science should be written like journalism. As such, this chapter discusses journalism most notably in its inverted pyramid format. The most important sentence in any document is the very first (the lead), and the following sentences decrease in importance as the story progresses. Hence, construction of the lead, supporting paragraph, and the rest of the story are described within the context of science journalism and writing about science. Additionally the 5 “Ws” of “Who?,” “What?,” “When?,” “Where?,” and “How?” as well as the author’s addition of the 3 “Cs” of science communication in “Clear,” “Concise,” and “Correct” are also provided. Interviews, the use of sources, medium, length, and new media are also included.