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Spring 2008
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Stempra newsletter
FEATURE: Welcome the World In just under 18 months 700 science journalists and communicators will be arriving in London to participate in the bi-annual World Conference of Science Journalists. The event is a professional development conference and it aims to highlight best practice, share experiences and offer skills, training and new contacts to participants, particularly those from developing and emerging countries. The journalists will also attend press briefings and go on site visits to leading UK science and technology institutions, as well as to The Netherlands and Ireland hosted by journalist associations in those countries. The WCSJ is unique in that it’s the only event in the world organised principally by science journalists for science journalists. Communicators are encouraged to attend and participate – but the principle focus of the meeting is to raise standards internationally and to empower reporters across the world to do more constructively critical and hard-hitting journalism. The event is being organised by the Association of British Science Writers with the help and support of leading journalists, communicators and scientists. Organisers include Dr Philip Campbell, Jeremy Webb, Clive Cookson, Fiona Fox, Sir David King and Geoff Carr. Organisations supporting the project include, The Royal Society, The Wellcome Trust, and the Science Media Centre. The vision is to put aside traditional rivalries and bring together the best the UK has to offer in this area. The meeting is also receiving considerable international backing from Canada, Australia and notably from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Science Magazine. Attendees will include science editors from leading broadcasters, newspapers and magazines. But for the organisers the most important delegates are those new to science journalism from developing and emerging nations. The ABSW, with the help of the World Federation of Science Journalists, aims to offer bursaries for up to 100 such individuals. After previous meetings many of them have returned to their jobs with renewed confidence and new skills and contacts. Some have set up new science journalism organisations in their own countries. It’s the sixth meeting of its kind organised under the auspices of the World Federation of Science Journalists, and in previous years has been organised by journalists in Australia, Canada and Brazil. The event is now a fixture among the international community of science journalists – and it is making a steady long term impact in improving the quantity and quality of science journalism across the world. But as well as worthy do-gooding, the meeting is editorially cutting edge and offers established journalists an opportunity to compare notes, make new friends, and find new stories. If you’d like to find out more about the meeting or offer help then contact the Conference Director, Julie Clayton (details below).
Pallab Ghosh, Science Correspondent for BBC News and President of the World Federation of Science Journalists Julie Clayton, Executive Director of the World Conference of Science Journalists 2009 Julie.clayton@absw.org.uk More details about the conference at www.scienceinlondon2009.org
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