Category Archives: Workshops

The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism organizes workshops to help journalists better report on the environment in the U.S. and abroad. Information about recent and upcoming conferences is posted here.

How journalists can be the scientist their story needs

By Shealyn Paulis

This is the 7th in a series of articles by Knight Center students who attended the annual conference of the National Association of Science Writers.

When journalists and science writers gathered in the windy city of Chicago, a panel offered space for veteran science reporters to share their experiences when their jobs called for a step beyond typical journalistic requirements.

These stories explored when journalists also became scientists, and how these experiences bettered their coverage.

The gathering of those concerned with science’s involvement with journalism comes as the Trump administration leads an unprecedented attack on science throughout its first year in office. This includes redrawn requirements for funding approval and historically large cuts to federal research funding in the name of efficiency.

In 2025, the National Science Foundation showed a 25% reduction in funding compared to the average of the past 10 years.

(Left to Right) Moderator Priyanka Runwal and panellists Patricia Clarembaux and Wendy Ruderman take questions from the SciWri2025 crowd following presentations.

The National Association of Science Writers session was organized and moderated by Priyanka Runwal, associate editor of Chemical & Engineering News. She began by introducing the topic of reporters conducting their own research and data-gathering methods, while emphasizing the crucial timing of the panel.

Runwal explained that as the scientific community faces mounting difficulties imposed by the government, leaving journalists with fewer resources for their reporting.

If journalists gather and analyze their own data, they have the opportunity to not only enhance their coverage, but do some of the work researchers are unable to do during difficult times. Continue reading →

Paid summer reporting internships available for MSU students at six Michigan news organizations

Michigan State University students are eligible for six paid internships this summer at major multi-media Michigan news organizations.

These internships through MSU’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism meet the MSU J-School’s internship requirement. Environmental expertise or particular interest is not required. But you’ll gain both.

The application deadline is Saturday, February 28, 2026.

Four internships are with members of the Great Lakes News Collaborative, a group of independent multi-media news organizations. These are for students with diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Please review the job descriptions for each newsroom. When applying, please rank which newsroom(s) interest you from the most to the least, based on the job descriptions and your ability to fulfill the location requirements. Circle of Blue, for example, is entirely remote, while Bridge Michigan, Detroit PBS and Michigan Public are hybrid or in-person. Continue reading →

Five science writers share tips on how to make science stories entertaining and funny

By Clara Lincolnhol

This is the 6th in a series of articles by Knight Center students who attended the recent annual conference of the National Association of Science Writers.

“Welcome to how to engage an audience,” said Kathyrn Jepson, the editor-in-chief for Symmetry Magazine and a science fiction editor.

Jepson and four other journalists spoke at a panel at the National Science Writers Conference in Chicago to share how writers can implement humor in their writing to get readers hooked on a scientific story.

Blythe Terrell, the executive editor at Science Vs., said a critical way to tell a funny science story is by getting the scientist in on a joke.

“One of the critical ways we do that is by giving scientists a space where they hopefully feel comfortable opening up and having just a little bit of fun,” Terrell said. “And that is often on our tape in our audio.”

She said they will write weird questions and see if the scientist wants to go along with them.

“It’s not like we aren’t taking the topic seriously. We are treating it with seriousness. The rest of the episode is serious, but we find space for these things and we find that really engages listeners,” Terrell said.

Kate Gammon, a comedian, and freelance journalist, said she writes a lot about crises, like the biodiversity crisis, the climate crisis and political crisis. “It felt sometimes like I was writing an obituary for nature,” Gammon said. “So I had to make jokes.” Continue reading →

NASW EDITORS

Editors are people too!

By Julia Belden

This is the 5th in a series of articles by Knight Center students who attended the recent annual conference of the National Association of Science Writers.

It’s a scenario every journalist is familiar with: You file what you think is a solid draft of a story, only to find it covered in red ink and comments upon its return from the editor’s desk.

Editing is a critical part of the writing process, yet there is frequently tension between writers and editors. At the recent National Association of Science Writers conference, a panel of editors and freelance writers took to the stage to offer their insights into this relationship.

At the heart of it all? “Do unto others.”

“Number one is treat your writers the way you wish you would be treated if you were a writer,” said Sarah Zielinski, the print editor for Science News Explores.

Attendees at the National Association of Science Writers list helpful and frustrating editor behaviors. Credit: Julia Belden

This means giving feedback with kindness and intention, the panelists continued.

Carmen Drahl, a freelance journalist and editor, cautioned editors about word choices when editing: “Never underestimate the emotional impact that a glib comment or off-the-cuff comment can have.”

The panelists recognized the inherent power imbalance between editors and writers. Freelance writers are in an especially precarious position, as money might not flow as steadily as it would in a staff writing job.

Because of this dynamic, writers might be hesitant to reach out for help when they need it, the panelists said.

Whether it’s a scheduling issue, a personal emergency or you’re simply stuck on something in a story, it’s important to communicate. Editors want to help, said the panelists. Continue reading →