A Tactical Guide to Science Journalism brings together award-winning journalists from around the world to share fascinating tales of science and how it works and to provide guidance into reporting specialties like infectious disease, climate change, astronomy, public health, physics, and statistics. From practical advice on finding sources and distilling complex research subjects for a general audience, to tips on how to cover science in authoritarian regimes, the book serves as an essential survey of the best in science reporting today--and a testament to the importance of independent journalistic inquiry in understanding research and building trust with audiences. Drawing insights from writers based at publications including The New York Times, the BBC, The Washington Post, Science, The New Yorker, National Geographic and more, this guide is designed to help journalists everywhere improve their craft and serve as a valuable resource for those seeking to understand the profession at its best.

INTRODUCTIONDeborah Blum, Ashley Smart, and Tom Zeller Jr.PART 1: FoundationsChapter 1. How Science WorksNsikan AkpanChapter 2. Finding and Vetting SourcesAzeen GhorashiChapter 3. Journals, Peer Review, and PreprintsIvan OranskyChapter 4. Working With StatisticsMaggie KoerthChapter 5. Fact CheckingBrooke BorelPART 2: The Craft of StorytellingChapter 6. A Foundation in NewsAlicia ChangChapter 7. Story StructureDeborah BlumChapter 8. Audio StorytellingElana GordonChapter 9. Film and Video StorytellingIan CheneyChapter 10, Multimedia StorytellingJeffery DelViscioChapter 11. Data StorytellingCharles SeifeChapter 12. Opinion WritingBina VenkataramanChapter 13. Magazine WritingPaige WilliamsChapter 14 Book WritingDan FaginPART 3: Investigative JournalismChapter 15. Investigative Science JournalismKatherine EbanChapter 16. Accessing Public RecordsMichael MorisyChapter 17. The Art of the InterviewPallab GhoshChapter 18. Cybersecurity and Protecting SourcesAndrada FiscuteanChapter 19. The Public Information MachineJames GlanzPART 4: Covering Science BeatsChapter 20. MedicineSabriya RiceChapter 21. Infectious DiseasesHelen BranswellChapter 22. Public HealthJulia BelluzChapter 23. Social SciencesSujata GuptaChapter 24. Science and JusticeRod McCullomChapter 25. PhysicsAshley SmartChapter 26. GeneticsAntonio RegaladoChapter 27. TechnologyMegan MolteniChapter 28. SpaceNadia DrakeChapter 29. ClimateSarah KaplanChapter 30. Conservation and WildlifeRachel NuwerChapter 31. Earth SciencesBetsy MasonChapter 32. MathematicsJennifer OuelletteChapter 33. Science PolicyDan VerganoChapter 34. Artificial IntelligenceMatthew HutsonChapter 35. Cybersecurity and National SecurityKim ZetterPART 5: Metrics, Models, and MarketingChapter 36. New Models for Science MediaThomas LinChapter 37. Measuring Success in Science JournalismKate TravisChapter 38. Social Media in Science JournalismLiz NeporentChapter 39 Building Trust and Navigating MistrustApoorva MandavilliChapter 40 Marketing Your StoriesJason PenchoffPART 6: The Global PictureChapter 41. Narrative Reporting AbroadMartin EnserinkChapter 42. Reporting in Authoritarian RegimesRichard StoneChapter 43. Collaborative Journalism Across BordersIv?n CarrilloChapter 44. Reporting in the Global SouthEsther NakkaziEPILOGUEStay Curious and Question Everything Tom Zeller Jr.RESOURCES