We've got the beat: How to create an area of expertise as a science writer

We've got the beat: How to create an area of expertise as a science writer

Science writing is a great place to hone a beat, building expertise in a singular science topic (or two or three). Beat reporters dive deep to offer context, judge whether a new finding is a big deal or a small step, and know who's doing the interesting work. When beat reporters are really good, sources may even tell them about work before it's published. Beat reporting goes beyond staff journalism jobs. Public information officers cover a beat within their organizations and some of the most successful freelance writers have picked a niche and built a flourishing business. In this Q&A session, four beat writers will answer your burning questions on how they dance to the beat.

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Social media hashtag: #beatwriters

Time:
Saturday, October 13th, 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm
Add to Calendar
Location:
Marvin Center, Grand Ballroom
Speaker(s):
Rebecca Boyle
  Science journalist, freelance, St. Louis, Mo.
Jon Hamilton
  Science correspondent, NPR News, Washington, D.C.
Tina Hesman Saey
  Senior writer, molecular biology, Science News, Washington, D.C.
Chanapa Tantibanchachai
  Senior media relations representative, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Md.
Moderator(s):
Cori Vanchieri
  Features editor, Science News, Washington, D.C.
Organizer(s):
Cori Vanchieri
  Features editor, Science News, Washington, D.C.

Meeting schedule

Friday, Oct. 12

12:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Check-in
Marvin Center, Great Hall (street level)

1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

$ Getting Real: Science Writing in AR and VR
Marvin Center, Room 307
W SciWriUnited: A regional SciWri groups congress
Marvin Center, Continental Ballroom

3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

3:30 pm to 4:15 pm

F Butterfly CRISPR workshop at the GW Department of Biological Sciences
Science and Engineering Hall, 8th floor; check in at the SEH lobby infodesk at 3:15.
F Tour of the Harlan Greenhouse at the GW Department of Biological Sciences
Science and Engineering Hall, 8th floor; check in at the SEH infodesk at 3:15.

4:30 pm to 5:15 pm

F Butterfly CRISPR workshop at the GW Department of Biological Sciences
Science and Engineering Hall, 8th floor; check in at the SEH lobby infodesk at 4:15.
F Tour of the Harlan Greenhouse at the GW Department of Biological Sciences
Science and Engineering Hall, 8th floor; check in at the SEH lobby infodesk at 4:15.

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

F Welcome reception
Science and Engineering Hall

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Diversity mixer
Stoney’s on L, 2101 L St. NW #103
Saturday, Oct. 13

7:30 am to 8:15 am

NASW membership meeting + light breakfast
Marvin Center, Grand Ballroom

8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Check-in
Marvin Center, Great Hall (street level)

8:30 am to 9:45 am

10:15 am to 11:45 am

W Congratulations, you're a manager! Now what?
Marvin Center, Grand Ballroom

11:45 am to 2:00 pm

W Lunch break
Visit your choice of multiple local establishments for good eats + good company

12:00 pm to 1:30 pm

12:45 pm to 1:45 pm

W #SciWriMentoring
Marvin Center, Continental Ballroom

2:00 pm to 3:15 pm

3:15 pm to 3:45 pm

W Afternoon Break
Marvin Center: Grand and Continental Ballrooms

3:45 pm to 5:00 pm

W So you think you want to edit?
Marvin Center, Continental Ballroom

5:15 pm to 6:30 pm

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm

F ScienceWriters Annual Awards Night
Washington Marriott Georgetown
Sunday, Oct. 14

7:45 am to 8:45 am

F Continental breakfast
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

7:45 am to 7:00 pm

F Exhibit Hall open
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

8:00 am to 11:00 am

F Check-in
Marvin Center Third Floor

8:45 am to 10:00 am

10:05 am to 11:05 am

11:05 am to 11:30 am

F Coffee break
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

11:30 am to 12:30 pm

12:30 pm to 2:30 pm

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm

3:30 pm to 4:00 pm

F Coffee break
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

F ScienceWriters reception
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom
Monday, Oct. 15

7:45 am to 8:30 am

F Continental breakfast
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

7:45 am to 5:00 pm

F Exhibit Hall open
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

8:30 am to 9:30 am

9:00 am to 10:40 am

F Tour of GW Nanofabrication and Imaging Center with emphasis on biomedical microscopy
Science and Engineering Hall, check in at lobby infodesk

9:35 am to 10:35 am

10:35 am to 10:50 am

F Coffee break
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

10:50 am to 11:50 am

11:50 am to 1:00 pm

Lunch break
Visit your choice of multiple local establishments for good eats + good company

12:00 pm to 12:45 pm

F Lunchtime yoga
GW Milken Institute School of Public Health

12:15 pm to 2:00 pm

F Tour of GW Nanofabrication and Imaging Center with emphasis on nanofabrication techniques
Science and Engineering Hall, check in at lobby infodesk

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

3:00 pm to 3:15 pm

F Coffee break
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

3:00 pm to 4:45 pm

F Tour of GW Nanofabrication and Imaging Center with emphasis on biomedical microscopy
Science and Engineering Hall, check in at lobby infodesk

3:15 pm to 4:05 pm

F Climate science on trial
Lisner Auditorium

4:05 pm to 4:55 pm

Tuesday, Oct. 16

8:00 am to 12:30 pm

F USP field trip: The science of quality standards
Rockville, MD. Van will depart from/return to the Washington Marriott GeorgetownD

8:00 am to 5:00 pm

$ National Association of Science Writers Information Access Summit
Marvin Center (800 21st Street NW) Room 309

8:30 am to 12:30 pm

F MedImmune field trip: Beyond biotech
Gaithersburg, MD. Bus will depart from/return to the Washington Marriott Georgetown.

9:00 am to 12:00 pm

F Georgetown University Medical Center field trip: Just because we can, should we?
Washington, DC. Bus will depart from/return to the Washington Marriott Georgetown.
F University of Maryland: Next-generation engineering
College Park, MD. Bus will depart from/return to the Washington Marriott Georgetown.
F University of Maryland: Quantum computing
College Park, MD. Bus will depart from/return to the Washington Marriott Georgetown.
F University of Maryland: Virtual and augmented reality
College Park, Md. Bus will depart/return to the Washington Marriott Georgetown.

9:00 am to 4:00 pm

F National Institute of Standards and Technology field trip: Not your standard tour
Gaithersburg, MD. Bus will depart from/return to the Washington Marriott Georgetown.

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