COMS 407 Science & Environment writing

SYLLABUS

Science and environmental communication  COMS 407 / COMS 498

Prof. Bill Kovarik
Contact — Email: wkovarik at radford dot edu/ phone 540 831 6033

GOALS

1) To understand the field of science and environment writing, and to appreciate the work of public scientists and writers who interpret science for the public through non-fiction genres of writing styles, including news, investigative and literary styles.

2) To learn how to write about scientific and environmental issues;  to find and interview a variety of stakeholders; to  profile scientists and explain their work; to fathom public documents such as pollution permits and  environmental impact studies; to explain the nuances of environmental controversy to the public; to be appropriately concerned about environmental justice;  and to illustrate and visualize scientific materials for the public.

Reading & Assignments 

A. Keeping up:

  1. Read “Science News”  a weekly magazine published by the Society for Science & the Public, available online or in magazine format through the library.  Especially interesting are the environmental stories such as “Extreme weather linked to humans,” Jan. 20, 2018.
  2. Subscribe to the Society of Environmental Journalists headline service (available at no cost).   Join SEJ  or  ASA or other organizations at a low student rate if possible.  Consider attending conference events, such as next year’s conference in October in Flynt Mich.
  3. Optional: Read  Environmental History, a blog about the history of the environment.  Learn about the Classics of Environmental Literature, from Pliny the Elder  to John Holdren.

B. Practice in basic reporting:  

  1. Basic writing   (Under “The Craft,” this site)
    1. Complete the “ten leads” exercise  on this site
    2.  Write two leads from the information given about the incident involving the former cop at the News U “Lead Lab” exercise.   The first lead should be expository inverted pyramid and the second should be a feature delayed lead.  (You’ll need a free account at NewsU.org)
  2. Read State and Local Issues to get an overview of routine environmental reporting. Write a short memo describing how to look for information for a proposed local air or water quality story.
  3. Read “How to report from a science conference.” by The Guardian. We’ll use some of these ideas to (virtually) attend the AAAS conference Feb. 15-19.  Write a short memo describing how you would cover the conference for Science News.
  4. Read  Environmental Terms and Environmental Measurements on this site.  Help  develop a quiz so that  people can familiarize themselves with the terms and the basic math.
  5. Also: Science Journalism’s Unlikely Golden Age 

C. Research assignments 

  1. Use the DOT guidebook  (available as a pdf or as a phone ap) to look up the placard ID numbers for trucks or railroad  tankers you see.  Then follow instructions to find spill handling guidelines and write a short memo about what you find.
  2. Search for published research papers at RU and VT  on environmental topics in the Web of Science database (available through the library with student login).  Use “OO=Radford” or “OO=Virginia Tech” as search terms.  Consider using some of these papers as starting points for an article on a significant topic.
  3. Research your major topic using web searches, science databases (especially Web of Science) and public documents and write a short memo about your research results.

D. Writing assignments  

  1. Research and write a short article about a published research paper. Read the article, interview the scientist (via email is OK), then turn in an outline, a first draft, and a final draft.
  2. Research and write a medium length article about a historical or environmental justice issue.
  3. Research and write a long article about a major environmental issue in the region. Interview scientists, regulators, environmentalists and industry sources.

E. Professional orientation:

    Careers and controversy 

  1. Science writing careers 
    1. Read: I blame a rattlesnake for my science writing career says Michelle Nijhuis as she blogs about writing for the New York Times “Draft” series. Dec. 9, 2013).   
    2.  Read: The End of Science Writing by John Franklin,  University of Maryland
    3. Contrast Franklin’s article with The Death of Science Journalism by Alex Berezow of the American Council on Science and Health. 
  2. Feature writing:  Mrs. Kelley’s Monster, by Jon Franklin  — The story is below the interview.  Write a short reaction memo.  Why is this considered one of the best feature stories ever written?
  3. Objectivity in science reporting:
    1. Read “Soft soap and fracking” about university public relations and science.
    2. Select several recent articles on reporting climate change in Columbia Journalism Review.
    3. Weight of Evidence reporting, an alternative to objectivity, by Sharon Dunwoody.  Write a short reaction memo. Why is this idea significant?

   History of Science writing   

  1. Read the history of science and environmental journalism 
  2. Read and consider: The Radium Girls,   and Ellen Swallow Richards and the Women’s Reform Movement.

Media law and ethics 

1. Become familiar with the Society of Professional Journalists code of ethics
2. Learn how to avoid libel and privacy lawsuits 

Assessment and Grading

Your grade will be assessed as follows:

A. Ongoing —  5% — Keep up with the news and be prepared to discuss recent events  in weekly meetings.
B. Basic Reporting — 10% —  Write the “10 leads” exercise and five short reaction memos from the reading
C. Research — 20% — Complete all assignments, but with greatest emphasis on C 3.
D.Write  —  60% — Write at least three items as described in Section
E. Additional information  — 5% — Become familiar with the issues and be prepared to discuss them  in weekly meetings.

Policies

Attendance policy: Attendance is important. Systematic absences will affect your grades, both in terms of poor test performance and penalties imposed for unexcused absences. Absences approaching 15 percent or more result in step-wise reduction of the grade.

Disabilities policy:   If you are seeking academic accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act at Radford University, you are required to register with the Disability Resource Office (DRO).   To receive academic accommodations for this class, please submit your documentation to the DRO in the lower level of Tyler Hall Suites 54-69, by fax to 540-831-6525, by email to dro@radford.edu. After submitting documentation to our office, you will set up an interview with a Disability Services Specialist to discuss accommodations. You will be notified via email once your accommodation package is complete and ready to be picked up. Once you have picked up your accommodation package, you will need to meet with each course professor during their office hours to review and discuss your package.  For more information and/or for documentation guidelines, visit www.radford.edu/dro or call 540-831-6350.

RU Honor code: By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment to understand, support and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception.