In this session, we’ll explore the challenges and opportunities in blogging about science under the umbrella of an institution (university, hospital, nonprofit org), and unleashing the voices of individuals in an organization where the leadership may still cling to older concepts of controlling its message. In a facilitated Q&A format we will answer your questions and discuss real tips on how to plan, write, edit, promote and moderate your institution's blog so it meets your institution's goals and also doesn't suck — and fix the problems if you think it might.

A growing number of minorities are practicing science writing but many of them feeling, in their own words, disconnected from the broader community of science journalists. This workshop will address issues of diversity in science journalism, including how to build and support a diverse newsroom. Panelists will also offer tips on how to find success as a minority reporter and solve immigration or other legal issues, and how minority status can affect reporting experiences or choice of topics. The overall goal is to provide professional and social support to marginalized writers, and help them succeed in their careers.

Federal, state and local governments are collecting more information than ever, creating a treasure trove of source material. Understanding your rights under FOI laws is a must to maximize your access to the cache of information that you and other tax-payers already have funded. It’s never been more important to understand copyright law and fair use, as you gather information from already published sources and protect your completed work.  This workshop will provide tips for getting information that is crucial for science writing, and for protecting the end result from plagiarists and other infringers lurking online.

Quite often, the freedom to innovate is one of the first things to slip when a publication or institution becomes financially stretched. And yet, creating new ways to reach and engage audiences is precisely what our industry needs.

It's frustrating. You have ideas but no plan of action. You understand the potential of innovative technologies, but you lack the resources to make them a reality within your organization. How can content creators convince editors and administrators to invest in innovation?
 
In this panel discussion, experts discuss their approaches to developing new projects and products to more effectively communicate science as well as their strategies for selling those ideas to people who have the power to make them happen.

Continental Breakfast