D3) Hit the streets: How to bring non-scientists into science stories

As science writers, our first impulse is often to seek out expert sources. But while scientists have one kind of authority on scientific matters, everyday people whose lives are affected by science — through disease or climate change, for instance — have another. This session will focus on how to incorporate the voices of non-scientists to make stories more powerful and more fair. We will discuss how to find sources with relevant experiences, how to draw out rich and pertinent details in interviews, how to balance scientific evidence and personal testimonies, and the ethical considerations governing interactions with sources who lack media training. Social media hashtag: #hitthestreets