This is the official text for the National Association of Science Writers. In the eight years since the publication of the first edition of A Field Guide for Science Writing, much about the world has changed. Some of the leading issues in today's political marketplace - embryonic stem cell research, global warming, health care reform, space exploration, genetic privacy, germ warfare - are informed by scientific ideas. Never has it been more crucial for the lay public to be scientifically literate. That's where science writers come in. And that's why it's time for an update to the Field Guide, already a staple of science writing graduate programs across the country. The academic community has recently recognized how important it is for writers to become more sophisticated, knowledgeable, and skeptical about what they write. More than 50 institutions now offer training in science writing. In addition mid-career fellowships for science writers are growing, giving journalists the chance to return to major universities for specialized training. We applaud these developments, and hope to be part of them with this new edition of the Field Guide. In A Field Guide for Science Writers, 2nd Edition, the editors have assembled contributions from a collections of experienced journalists who are every bit as stellar as the group that contributed to the first edition. In the end, what we have are essays written by the very best in the science writing profession. These wonderful writers have written not only about style, but about content, too. These leaders in the profession describe how they work their way through the information glut to find the gems worth writing about. We also have chapters that provide the tools every good science writer needs: how to use statistics, how to weigh the merits of conflicting studies in scientific literature, how to report about risk. And, ultimately, how to write.

Foreword, Timothy Ferris Part One: Learning the Craft Introduction, Mary Knudson 1. Finding Story Ideas and Sources, Philip M. Yan 2. Reporting From Science Journals, Tom Siegfried 3. Understanding and Using Statistics, Lewis Cope 4. Writing Well About Science: Techniques From Teachers of Science Writing 5. Taking Your Story to the Next Level, Nancy Shute 6. Finding a Voice and a Style, David Everett Part Two: Choosing Your Market Introduction, Carey Goldberg 7. Small Newspapers, Ron Steely 8. Large Newspapers, Robert Lee Hotz 9. Popular Magazines, Janice Hopkins Tanne 10. Trade and Science Journals, Colin Norman 11. Broadcast Science Journalism, Joe Palca 12. Freelance Writing, Kathryn Brown 13. Science Books, Carl Zimmer 14. Popular Audiences on the Web, Alan Boyle 15. Science Audiences on the Web, Tabitha Powledge 16. Science Editing, Mariette DiChristina Part Three: Varying Your Writing Style Introduction, Robin Marantz Henig 17. Deadline Writing, Gareth Cook 18. Investigative Reporting, Antonio Regalado 19. Gee Whiz Science Writing, Robert Kunzig 20. Explanatory Writing, George Johnson 21. Narrative Writing, James Shreeve 22. The Science Essay, Robert Kanigel Part Four: Covering Stories in the Life Sciences Introduciton, Deborah Blum 23. Medicine, Shannon Brownlee 24. Infectious Diseases, Marilyn Chase 25. Nutrition, Sally Squires 26. Mental Health, Paul Raeburn 27. The Biology of Behavior, Kevin Begos 28. Human Genetics, Antonio Regalado 29. Cloning and Stem Cell Research, Stephen S. Hall Part Five: Covering Stories in the Physical and Environmental Sciences Introduction, Deborah Blum 30. Technology and Engineering, Kenneth Chang 31. Space Science, Michael D. Lemonick 32. The Environment, Andrew C. Revkin 33. Nature, McKay Jenkins 34. Earth Sciences, Glennda Chui 35. Climate, Usha Lee McFarling 36. Risk Reporting, Cristine Russell Part Six: Communicating Science From Institutions Taking a Different Path--Journalists and Public Information Officers: Similarities and Differences, The Editors Introduction, John D. Toon 37. Universities, Earle Holland 38. Institutional Communications During Crisis, Joann Ellison Rodgers 39. Government Agencies, Colleen Henrichsen 40. Nonprofits, Frank Blanchard 41. Museums, Mary Miller 42. Corporate Public Relations, Marion Glick Epilogue, James Gleick