FAQs

For members

How do I log into the website?

If you are a member of the Association, your username in most cases will have been set to your first name and last name. But if you need a reminder of this, or if you don't know your password, please use this form to request a replacement.

Can you remind me how to pay my subscription and what the fees are?

Please read our 'Pay subs' page

How do I publish a profile on the Members Directory?

Log into the website. Go to the Members Directory page. On left-hand side of the page, click the Edit Profile link. You can then write or edit your biography, and then make it visible to the public.

I am not getting ABSW-L emails, why not?

You have to request these in the first instance. Log into the website and visit the Join page and there is a request form on the right hand side. This request process can take up to a week but normally happens faster.

If you think you are already a member but there is some problem with the emails arriving, then you should log into your ABSW-L Google Group and check where your emails are being sent to and whether you have opted to receive them. NOTE: the ABSW does not manage this list, once you are subscribed to this list you should be able to instruct it to send emails to you where you want and how.

If you have tried all this, have checked your spam filters, have read through Google Group help, and are completely and utterly stuck, then by all means ask for help. But please do try to figure it out for yourself first.

I have moved or changed my email address. How do I update my contact details?

Simply log on to the website, visit the Members Directory and click on Edit Profile. Please do keep these details up to date, so we can contact you with news and events. Please note, if you are a member of the email list, ABSW-L and your email address changes, you will have to log into the Google Group and inform the list of your change of email.

Remember: Your email address for ABSW-L will NOT automatically update if you edit your profile or notify the ABSW. 

Can I volunteer to help or organise an event?

Yes please. Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For those looking to enter science journalism

I've just finished a degree in science and want to get into science journalism/publishing/communication. Can you help me? Do you do internships?

The ABSW does not organise internships, for that sort of thing you need to contact the outlets that you are interested in directly.

If you are still a student, and are actively pursuing journalism through student media you may well qualify for student membership of the ABSW, and you can then join our newsgroup to pick up gossip and job tips and attend events.

You also ought to read up a bit on entering science journalism. In 2002 we compiled a brief report So You Want To Be A Science Writer (SYWTBASW), which although out of date has much valuable advice. This report is now being updated. If you do choose to do a course, which is likely to cost more than £5,000 in fees alone, you need to satisfy yourself that it fulfils your needs for training and education and that this will take you somewhere useful.

SYWTBASW and a few other resources can be found here.

I've just finished studying a course in science and I'd like get into journalism, what course would you recommend I do to become a science journalist?

It is not necessary to study science communication or science journalism in order to become a science journalist. Many choose to do so, and although some courses offer very valuable training in new media technologies, it is important to remember that not all of the skills you need are the sort of thing that requires academic study.

The ABSW cannot recommend individual courses to students. However we do try to offer some general advice and in 2002 we compiled a brief report So You Want To Be A Science Writer (SYWTBASW), which although out of date has much valuable advice. This report is now being updated. If you do choose to do a course, which is likely to cost more than £5,000 in fees alone, you need to satisfy yourself that it fulfils your needs for training and education and that this will take you somewhere useful.

SYWTBASW and a few other resources can be found here.

Ask the course tutors questions, and be aware that a course lasting one year may actually be only two terms of tuition plus a third term that involves some kind of research project or dissertation which is not generally vocational. While these projects are integral to a university being able to award a master's degree, the content is unlikely advance your career as a journalist or writer. It is possible, however, that the research methods you use may give you some skills in computer-aided journalism. 

All this said, many do choose to do a course after a degree, particularly scientists who have had little experience in the media. What we would always recommend to any student of science is that they should try and get as much experience as possible within the student media at their university before they leave.

I have recently graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Medical Science and am now very keen to embark on a career in medical publishing. I am currently looking for a medical writing training course and was wondering if you could recommend any that are well taught and are regarded by employers to be good?

As with the previous question, we cannot recommend individual courses. If you want to know what employers want, you have to ask them or look at the qualifications they look for when they advertise jobs. Don't assume that it is necessary to train to work in a specific area. Many parts of publishing will take on staff at junior levels, say as an editorial assistant, and give them on the job training. This is particularly the case with specialist and technical publications.

If there is a course you are interested in, there is no substitute for pestering the course tutors about the relevance and destinations of their students. You should also contact someone who works in the field you are interested in and take them out for coffee or try and have a brief chat over the phone. Or even simply email them. They can tell you how they got their job. Please, also, do make the effort to try and gain a week's work experience (unpaid if necessary) in a target company before you sign up and pay for an expensive course which may get turn out to be poor value for money.

Other

Why should I join?

Please read our 'Member Benefits' page.