Even the most experienced journalists can sure remember their first insecure steps in text production when staring at a blank sheet of paper without a clue of where to begin. Even when you have already been a member of the writing guild for many years, there are days when news are pouring in so fast that it is helpful to remember one’s basics. The World Federation of Science Journalists as compiled ten online lessons so far to help journalists to structure their working processes efficiently – from finding a topic via planning an article to judging the reliability of a source. All lessons can be downloaded as a PDF file, too.

Lesson 2, for instance, has been written by Julie Clayton, UK-based freelance science journalist, editor and workshop trainer, and focuses on the last mentioned issue of telling a good source from a not so good one. ‘This online lesson is aimed at journalists, particularly in developing countries, who wish to enhance their skills for finding and judging the sources of science stories.’ Another valuable hint of hers is to choose topics with an anchor to everyday life. By relating to issues that concern us all, you make sure to start from where your readers are.

As primary sources she advises journalists to meet scientists, attend conferences and seminars, to drop in at colleges and research institutes: ‘… a reporter … should get to know three new people per day’, says Clayton. So get out there! Building up a relationship with trusted scientists may come in handy for future stories and to stay up to date on the latest developments in the field. Of course, it is essential to verify the information that you have received during an interview. This is the moment to turn to secondary sources such as other media, press releases, forums, and websites.

When it comes to judging the quality of a source, especially online ones, it is advisable to check whether

• another scientist or a scientific society has recommended this source
• his or her claim has been peer-reviewed yet
• the scientist is likely to profit from the sale of any products relating to the work, says Julie Clayton.

For the entire e-lecture and the ones by her fellow authors please visit http://www.wfsj.org/course/ and choose one of the lessons available for free in English, Arabic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese and Turkish.

 
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