UK Conference of Science Journalists
Day Two: Wednesday 14 October
09:50 Cybersecurity for journalists (90 mins)
Session moderator: Wendy Grossman
Invited speaker: Duncan Campbell
Are you working securely? Journalists are often more likely to be targeted by cybercriminals than the average person, so need to be aware of their security. In this session, we learn about the simple tips and tricks for journalists to keep their digital life safe. Here's the replay:
11:30 Disinformation and how to counter it (90mins)
Session moderator: Angela Saini
Panel: Ewan Birney (European Molecular Biology Lab), Amil Khan (Valent Projects), Michael Marshall, (Good Thinking Society), Mike Wendling (BBC Trending)
Science journalists and editors are fighting a war not only against dodgy misinformation but also, increasingly, disinformation designed to deliberately deceive, usually for political ends.
Focusing on the tactics of those spreading pseudoscientific theories such as climate change denial, anti-vaccination sentiment and racism, this panel assembled by the science journalist Angela Saini. founder of the ‘Challenging Pseudoscience’ group at the Royal Institution, explored the tactics of those who sow disinformation and how science journalists can cover and combat this dangerous form of online abuse. Here's the replay:
13:30 How to survive as a freelance journalist (90 mins)
Session moderator: Dalmeet Singh Chawla
Panel: Roxanne Khamsi, Benjamin Plackett, Elizabeth Preston, Inga Vesper
How does one start a career as a freelance journalist and manage it in the long-run? How has Covid-19 affected the world of freelance science journalism? How much do freelancers get paid and how do you negotiate higher rates? And how can freelancers maximise their productivity and supplement their income in ways other than writing? Here's the replay:
15:00 Dos and don'ts of pitching (90 mins)
Session moderator: Katrina Wesencraft
Panel: Nisha Gaind (Nature), Josh Howgego (New Scientist), Matt Reynolds (WIRED UK), Sarah Tesh (Physics World)
In this interactive session, editors discussed the essence of good pitches, the dos and don’ts, how to deal with an editor ghosting you, and more - with an opportunity for delegates to pitch an idea live to the panel and get feedback. Here's the replay:
15:10 Mental wellbeing for science journalists (90 mins)
Session moderator: Andy Extance
Panel: Amy Charles (BBC), Lucy Maddox (consultant clinical psychologist), Alex Riley (freelance)
Journalism brings with it many pressures and triggers that can affect mental health. How is awareness changing in our industry, and what still needs to change? What tools and resources are available for mental wellbeing support? And what should editors and managers be aware of? Here's the replay:
16:40 How to measure success (90 mins)
Session moderator: Richard Fisher
Panel: Angèle Christin, Stanford University, Chris Moran, Guardian News
Analytics in the newsroom are continually shaping the stories we choose to cover. The exodus from print to online has had many benefits, but the downsides are significant, too. Editorial goals are increasingly influenced by the growing importance of audience data in web newsrooms. This creates immense pressure on journalists and communicators.
This session explored how journalists and their writing can be negatively impacted by the number of clicks or followers they are getting or not getting, in order to help delegates understand how they can measure, contextualise and understand the true impact of their work. Here's the replay:
16:50 A brilliant book proposal (90 mins)
Session moderator: Ehsan Masood
Panel: Alex O'Brien, Science and Technology Writer, Peter Tallack, Founder and Director of the Science Factory literary agency, Elizabeth Sheinkman, Literary Agent, Peter Fraser Dunlop Literary and Talent Agency
What does a top-notch book proposal look like in 2020?
In this session, we heard from a publisher/editor, an author and an agent about what it takes to develop your idea for a book into an effective proposal. We also covered recent industry trends, why you should (and shouldn’t) decide to write a book, and the practicalities and pitfalls of making the transition from journalism to the (very) long-form. Here's the replay:
19:00 ABSW Awards Ceremony (70 mins)
Nearly 300 guests joined us to celebrate excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics journalism and writing across 16 categories, where we awarded £12,700 in prizes, thanks in part to support from our award sponsors UKRI, IBM Research Europe, ABPI, BIVDA, the Royal Society, The Katherine Giles Fund and the NUJ. Here's the replay: