September 2024

Science Writing &

Reporting
CITY OF SAN JUAN
 •It is writing or reporting (communicating)
SCIENCE to the GENERAL PUBLIC (or
your school / community).

•It involves “converting” technical

WHAT IS information into INFORMATIVE,
RELEVANT, and ENTERTAINING articles,
SCIENCE infographics, video/ sound clips, or pages.
WRITING
•It is communicating what SCIENTISTS,
& RESEARCHERS, DOCTORS are saying
REPORTING? into information that can easily be
UNDERSTOOD by a wider audience.

•It is “simplifying” complex ideas, medical

jargon, scientific terms into READABLE
information, WITHOUT LOSING
ACCURACY.
Why is Science Reporting
so IMPORTANT?

•To put it simply, it is about LIVES –

even SAVING LIVES.

•The global health pandemic has shown that CLEAR

COMMUNICATION can galvanize public responses,
reduce anxiety, and improve well-being of the people.

•Social Media is awash with misinformation/

disinformation. It is role of Science Journalists to
uphold truth based on scientific studies and interviews
from public health experts.
•For SCIENCE-ENVIRONMENT
Writing, it makes people understand
the effects of CLIMATE CHANGE and
the importance of SUSTAINABILITY
considering our finite resources.
•CLIMATE JOURNALISTS serve as
amplifiers that enable weak or remote
•It is also about SAVING LIVES, as voices to reach a wide audience and
this is our one and only planet.
decision makers. They are also
watchdogs, holding political authority to
SCIENCE (Health,
Environment, SciTech,
Sustainability, Fitness,
Lifestyle Well-being, etc.)
Section is a VITAL part of
Traditional Media
Science (Environment)
pages can CALL FOR
ACTION, RAISE ISSUES, or
ALARM SOCIETY
…BUT it also can ENTERTAIN,
ANSWER QUESTIONS, COVER
LIFESTYLE TOPICS, OR PUT A
SPOTLIGHT ON BEST
PRACTICES.
SCIENCE ISSUES are part of an Editorial,
showing its significance on the national stage.
 2. Presentation
1. & style – It should be
Trustworthine clear and coherent reporting,
ss – It should be which grabs the audience’s
based on attention and recognizes
EVIDENCE and their concerns.
CREDIBLE
SCIENTIFIC
INFORMATION.
3. Connection – It
should connect with people’s
concerns within the
community or society in
3 Important Pillars of general (or in your case, the
school and the city).
Effective Science Audiences respond to
information that directly
Writing & Reporting relates to their real life
experiences.
 The First Pillar of
Effective Science
Journalism
• Viewers and readers need to TRUST the information your report is based on.

• They need to be CONFIDENT the content is based on scientific findings that

have been rigorously and ethically produced.

• Science news on various platforms is filled with dangerous misinformation

and pseudoscientific ‘facts’ – people are confused. It is therefore the role of
SCIENCE JOURNALISTS not to contribute to these errors and ‘fake’ stories.

Your reporting should be TRANSPARENT and

FACTUAL – make clear the origin of the
scientific findings, the scientific method. IT IS
BETTER TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION!
The Second Pillar of
Effective
Science Journalism
• PRESENTATION and STYLE are key if you want
your story to have impact and influence.

• People are confused on critical issues – COVID-19

& vaccines, the climate crisis for instance – and
demand CLEAR and CONTEXTUAL reporting.

• It must seize their attention and offer engaging

content – be SPELLBINDING.

Some of the most impactful science

reporting engages directly with the
audience, offers INTERACTION
with people affected by the issue
and draws on their experiences.
IMAGES & INFOGRAPHICS /
TESTIMONIALS ARE EFFECTIVE!
 The Third Pillar of
Effective
Science Journalism
• Science journalism must have a CONNECTION WITH SOCIETY they
are active within and have a RESPONSIBILITY toward.

• To enlarge on this responsibility toward the public at large –

science reporting should be PURPOSEFUL and TARGETED as
readers and viewers will be drawn to content
which is relevant to their lives.

Science Reporting can be misconceived as boring, dull, or difficult

to understand – so reporting should be IMPACTFUL,
MEMORABLE, and ENGAGING. USE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
TO REACH OUT, ESPECIALLY TO THE YOUNG ONES WHO WILL
INHERIT THE EARTH.
 START YOUR SCIENCE REPORT
1. Choose a topic (What interests you
most? Covid or Climate? Consult with 7. After approval of the article, determine how you want
your editorial team). it to be presented. Is it just a stand-alone piece on your
campus paper? Or does it have an online edition?
2. Read on that topic first. Check online
resources.
8. Consider the visual aspect. Does it need an
infographic? How about photos? A QR Code to lead to a
3. Check if you have a Resource Person video clip?
you can quote/ interview for your piece.

4. Once you write it, make sure to have an 9. How will you promote your piece on Social media?
interesting headline and lead paragraph. How about SocMed Art Cards? How about boosting on
FB?
5. Again, confirm, confirm, confirm. Check,
check, check. 10. Make sure it reaches its target audience. Is the
government? The LGU? The community? The
6. Have a set of new eyes to look into your stakeholders of MIMAROPA?
piece.
Checklist for Award-Winning
Science &Technology Writing
Once you finished your output, ask these questions…

1. Is this based on Science?

2. Does it have Facts?
3. Does my article present Balance?
4. Are my sources Transparent?
5. Am I Writing Clearly?
6. Have I presented this in the best way?
7. Does this ‘talk’ to the correct audience?
8. Does my article have a clear purpose?
9. Will this impact lives (or society/ community/ school)?
10. Are my spellings, grammar, tenses, names (position) of
people, etc. ALL CORRECT?
* Presenting your article visually
• Filipinos are very “visually” inclined.
The most effective So it is better to present it visually,
journalism is emotionally via photos/ infographics/ video and
engaging, for example sound clips. These are all possible via
by using narrative and online platforms and social media
storytelling. apps.

• Multiplicity of formats and

It makes full use of each techniques can be used to enhance
format’s capabilities [online, the way the science is reported and
TV, audio etc], communicated.
by offering multisensory
experiences, and finding • Take full advantage of technological
innovative ways to present innovations within the media
science information. industry to engage audiences in new
ways and try to attract a diverse
audience with multisensory means.
 Become a RESPONSIBLE
SCIENCE JOURNALIST
•The work of a responsible journalist is socially
and politically conscious, reflects a diversity of
views when addressing controversial topics, and
follows ethical standards.

A responsible journalist changes

people and society by introducing new
knowledge and ideas, stimulating
debate, and challenging existing
biases. Let’s not add to
dis/misinformation.
Write your article ethically -- being impartial,
well sourced and not resorting to alarmism/
sensationalism / clickbait.
* Even if this
is Science Reporting, please follow
appropriate ethical code for journalists.
 Please research/ write a 300-word now can be found in our food)
TASKS article on the following topics 4) (Lifestyle Drugs = Impact of
(CHOOSE 3) obesity
1) (Artificial Intelligence = Impact of related drugs)
deepfakes on upcoming 5) (Food Security = Why is there
elections) still hunger)
2) (Climate Change = Intense 6) (Work-Life Balance) =
typhoons are coming inside PAR) Responding to work emails after
3) (Plastic Waste = Microplastics work increases burnout
GOOD LUCK & GOD BLESS SAN
JUAN!

For more information, email me at:

[email protected]