ROBERTSON SCHOOL OF MEDIA & CULTURE VCU LIBRARIES

Syllabus for MASC 491-005 Science Journalism Fall 2016

Instructors:

Jeff South

Sara Beth Williams Keel

Office:

Temple Building, Room 1149-B

Office hours:

10 a.m.-noon on Mondays and

Tuesdays; 2-4 p.m. on Wednesdays;
and by appointment

Phone:

804-827-0253 (office);
804-519-1062 (cell)

804-828-6339

Email:

jcsouth@vcu.edu

swilliams76@vcu.edu

n and where
meets:

2-3:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Temple 2211

he Web:

http://blackboard.vcu.edu
http://rampages.us/sciencejournalism
http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course, a collaboration between the Robertson School of Media and Culture and VCU
Libraries, will focus on how to write news stories about the environment, health and medicine,
technology and other scientific subjects. For journalism students, the class will help you think
like a scientist; for science students, it will help you think like a journalist. And for all students,
the course will help you communicate often-complex scientific discoveries to a mass audience.
Academic researchers and reporters generally have had a rocky relationship. This course will
explore why, and why its critical for the media to report scientific news in a way that is both
accurate and interesting. To do that, you first must understand what youre writing about and so
this course will give you a solid foundation on how to do research on scientific topics.
In the course, we will read and discuss excellent examples of science writing, and we will hear
from some of the nations top science writers (in person and in Google Hangouts). In addition,
you will do a lot of science writing yourself. Students in the class will produce stories for
publication in a magazine to be hosted by VCU Libraries.
COURSE GOALS AND STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This course will introduce you to the basics of science reporting and writing and give you a
working knowledge of the main areas of science coverage. The course will include lessons on
news and feature writing, multimedia content and social media. You will learn to:

Recognize what kinds of scientific research would be appropriate for news stories

Conduct background research on scientific topics that you plan to write about

SYLLABUS FOR SCIENCE JOURNALISM PAGE 2

Interview scientists, researchers and other people for your news stories

Write short, medium-length and long stories about scientific subjects

Produce photos, videos and social media postings to accompany your stories

PREREQUISITE
To take our Science Journalism course, you must have completed one of the following courses:

MASC 203 Journalism Writing

MASC 204 Story

UNIV 200 Inquiry and the Craft of Argument

HONOR 200 Rhetoric

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Youmustobtainthefollowingbookforthiscourse:
AFieldGuideforScienceWriters:TheOfficialGuide
oftheNationalAssociationofScienceWriters(2ndedition)
EditedbyDeborahBlum,MaryKnudson
andRobinMarantzHenig
PublishedbyOxfordUniversityPress
ThebookisavailableattheBarnes&Noble@VCUBookstore,1111W.BroadSt.,aswellas
fromAmazonandotheronlinebookstores.Comparisonshopforthebestdeal;youcanbuyused
paperbackandKindleeditionsforlessthan$10.
Wewillsupplementthetextbookwithonlinearticlesandvideosthatwewillassigninclass.
In addition, because you will be writing in news style, we will use The Associated Press
Stylebook. All VCU students have free access to the AP Stylebook Online at
http://library.vcu.edu/search/1161
If possible, bring a laptop or tablet to class. Occasionally, we will do writing or research
exercises in class. We will let you know in advance when it may be imperative to have a laptop,
so you will have time to arrange for one. (Dont worry; we can help.)
CLASS WEBSITES
We will use the Blackboard course management system [http://blackboard.vcu.edu] for
announcements, assignments, quizzes, grades and other key aspects of the course.
In addition, we will have a public course website at http://rampages.us/sciencejournalism. There,
we will post open-source readings, our Google Hangouts and other materials that we can share
with the general public. During the course, you each will create and maintain a personal blog
and, with prompts from the instructors, post information and thoughts about science journalism;
your posts will be aggregated on our public course website.

SYLLABUS FOR SCIENCE JOURNALISM PAGE 3

A major deliverable during the class will be stories that we can publish in a magazine to be
hosted on the VCU Scholars Compass website [http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu]. We also may
share your stories with local media outlets.
EMAILPOLICY
VCU gives each student an email account, and that is the address Blackboard uses (and we will
use) for this class. VCUs email policy is at http://go.vcu.edu/syllabus. We will communicate
frequently in this class by email. Therefore, you should check your email several times a week
for messages about the Science Journalism course.
ATTENDANCE
Inthisclass,youwilllearnfromeachotherandsoitiscriticaltocometoeachclassmeeting
andtobeontime.Attendancewillbetakenatthestartofeachclass;ifyouaremorethan15
minuteslate,youwillbecountedabsent.
Ifyouhavethreeabsences,yourfinalgradewillbeloweredbyonelettergrade.Ifyouhavefour
absences,yourfinalgradewillbeloweredbytwolettergrades.Ifyouhavefiveormore
absences,youwillreceiveanFinthecourse.
Reasonableaccommodationswillbemadeforexcusedabsences,suchasseriousillnessesand
studentsrepresentingtheuniversity(asexplainedathttp://go.vcu.edu/syllabus).Students
requestinganexcusedabsencemustdosoinwritingandprovidedocumentation,inadvance
whenpossible.
ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS
Here are the major deliverables in this course:

After conducting interviews and other research, you will write three news stories.
One (the first story, due Sept. 15) will be relatively short about 500 words. Others
(notably the final story, due Dec. 1) will be relatively long at least 1,000 words with
photos or other multimedia. For each story, you will submit a draft; I will edit your draft,
give you feedback and assign a tentative grade. Together, we will set a deadline for you to
revise your story. Every story will require at least one revision. I then will enter a final
grade that reflects both your draft and your revisions.

On Nov. 4-5, you will coach graduate-student researchers on how to write an accessible
abstract and press release about their projects.

On a staggered basis, each student will write a report and make a presentation about a
science-journalism book and/or author (especially journalists who are serving as guest
speakers).

We will have two tests (a midterm and a final exam).

You will maintain a blog, where you will post short writing assignments and other
homework.

SYLLABUS FOR SCIENCE JOURNALISM PAGE 4

CALCULATION OF FINAL COURSE GRADES

This chart shows how much each gradebook item will be worth. This grading scheme will be
modified if we change the number or types of assignments or tests during the semester. Changes
will be announced by email and on Blackboard.
Gradebook item

Weight
5%
10%
15%
10%
15%
20%
15%
10%

Story#1(Sept.15)
Story#2(Oct.6)
Midtermexam(Oct.25)
Coachagraduatestudent(Nov.45)
Story#3(Dec.1)
Finalexam(Dec.13)
Author/bookreportandpresentation
Blogandotherhomeworkassignments

100%

Total
Here is how I will calculate your final grade:
Weighted total

Final grade

90% or more

80-89%

70-79%

60-69%

Below 60%

VCU QUEST INNOVATION GRANT

This course is supported by a grant that funds projects aligned with VCUs strategic plan, called
Quest for Distinction. VCU selected the Science Journalism course as a disruptively innovative
idea and as a way to make it real. The Quest Innovation Grant will fund the design and
production of our magazine and help us bring in guest speakers, for example.
INCOMPLETES
No incompletes will be given in this course, except for dire emergencies. All assignments must
be completed by the end of the semester to pass.
ETHICS
Fabricating material or using anothers work without attribution is an extremely serious offense,
and your name will be turned in to appropriate university officials. In this course, as in the

SYLLABUS FOR SCIENCE JOURNALISM PAGE 5

journalism profession, plagiarism is not tolerated. This means you must not use direct quotes or
verbatim material from a publication or the Internet without giving credit.
TheVCUHonorSystemwillbeenforcedinthisclass.UnlessIspecifyotherwise,allworkdone
forthiscourseispledgedwork,asdefinedbytheHonorSystem.Eachassignmentimplicitly
carriesthispledge:
Onmyhonor,Ihaveneithergivennorreceivedaidonthisassignment.
ForacompletecopyoftheVCUHonorSystem,seewww.students.vcu.edu/policies.html.
Inthiscourse,wealsowillfollowtheSocietyofProfessionalJournalistsCodeofEthics
[http://www.spj.org/pdf/ethicscode.pdf].Amongotherprovisions,Iexpectyoutotestthe
accuracyofinformationfromallsourcesandexercisecaretoavoidinadvertenterror;identify
sourceswheneverfeasible;avoidstereotyping;givevoicetothevoiceless;avoidconflicts
ofinterest,realorperceived;remainfreeofassociationsandactivitiesthatmaycompromise
integrityordamagecredibility;andadmitmistakesandcorrectthempromptly.
BEHAVIORINTHECLASSROOMANDTHEFIELD
Youareentitledtoreceiveinstructionfreefrominterferencebyotherstudents.Ifyoubelieve
thatanotherstudentsbehaviorisdisruptive,tellusandwewilldealwiththesituation.
AccordingtotheFacultyGuidetoStudentConductinInstructionalSettings,Theuniversityisa
communityoflearners.Students,aswellasfaculty,havearesponsibilityforcreatingand
maintaininganenvironmentthatsupportseffectiveinstruction.Inorderforfacultymembersto
provideandstudentstoreceiveeffectiveinstructioninclassroomsandotherlearningareas,the
universityexpectsstudentstoconductthemselvesinanorderlyandcooperativemanner.
Amongotherthings,cellphonesshouldbesilencedwhileintheclassroom.TheStudentCodeof
Conductalsoprohibitsthepossessionoforcarryingofanyweapon.
Bepolite;respectyourclassmates,yourinstructorsandotherswithwhomyouwillinteract
duringthiscourse.Ifyouengageinanybehaviorthatwedeemdisruptive,youwillgetaverbal
warningforthefirstincidentandawrittenwarningforthesecond.Athirdincidentwillresultin
yourbeingadministrativelywithdrawnfromthisclass.Formoreabouttheuniversityspolicyon
studentconduct,seehttp://go.vcu.edu/syllabus.
Inreportingstoriesanddoingotherworkforthiscourse,youwillinteractwithnewssources,
journalistsandotherpeople.Youmustactinaprofessionalmanneratalltimes:ininterviewing
people,talkingtothemonthephoneandonline,andcommunicatingwiththembyemail.This
meansbeingrespectful,politeandnonargumentativeinshort,actingasaprofessionaland
ethicaljournalist.Italsomeansdressingappropriatelyforinterviewsandothermeetings.Your
behaviorandappearancereflectnotonlyonyoubutalsoonVCUandtheRobertsonSchool.If
youactunprofessionally,yourgradewillbeloweredaccordingly.
COMMITMENTTODIVERSITY
It is vital that students in this course broaden their mass communications experiences, with
guidance from the instructor, by including in their course work people and subjects such as
ethnic, racial and religious minorities, people with disabilities, gay men and lesbians, and other
groups. The intent is to ensure that students are exposed to diverse ideas and perspectives. In this

SYLLABUS FOR SCIENCE JOURNALISM PAGE 6

class, it is the responsibility of the instructors and students to foster an environment that supports
free expression.
Under VCU policy, you may not harass or intimidate any person or interfere with the lawful
freedom of other persons, including invited speakers, to express their views.
REPORTINGOFINCIDENTSOFSEXUALMISCONDUCT
All faculty members are mandated reporters of any incidents of sexual misconduct/violence (e.g.,
sexual assault, sexual exploitation and partner or relationship violence). This means that faculty
cannot keep information about sexual misconduct/violence confidential if you share that
information with them and they must report this information immediately to the university's Title
IX Coordinator.
Confidential reporting sources include staff in Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence at the
Wellness Resource Center, University Counseling Services and University Student Health
Services.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires VCU to provide academic adjustments or
accommodations for students with documented disabilities. If you have a disability that requires
an academic adjustment or accommodation, you first must register with the Disability Support
Services Office (804-828-2253) in Room 102 of the Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Then
you and I can meet to discuss your needs and how we can address them. For more information,
see the universitys Disability Support Services web page: www.students.vcu.edu/dss/
OTHERPOLICIESANDSYLLABUSINFORMATION
Visit http://go.vcu.edu/syllabus for other VCU policies, including:

Campus emergency information

Class registration required for attendance

Managing stress

Military short-term training or deployment

Student financial responsibility

Withdrawal from classes

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES, READINGS, ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS

This schedule is subject to change. Changes will be announced in class and by email and posted
on Blackboard. We have listed readings for each class, and we will assign additional readings
during the semester. You must complete the readings before coming to class.
Week 1 (Overview)
Thursday, Aug.25
Introductiontosciencejournalism
Reviewsyllabus
Whatshouldwenameourmagazine?
Homeworkassignment
Buytextbook
Week 2 (Learning the craft)
Tuesday,Aug.30
FieldGuide:EditorsNote;Foreward;IntroductiontoPartOne:LearningtheCraft;
andChapter1(FindingStoryIdeasandSources)
TheLegacyofUndark:WhyScienceJournalismMatters
NiemanReports:WhatEveryJournalistShouldKnowAboutScience
SenseAboutScienceUSA
Homeworkassignment
Setupyourblog
Wednesday,Aug.31:Endofadd/dropandlateregistration
Thursday,Sept.1
FieldGuide:Chapter4(WritingWellAboutScience:TechniquesFromTeachers
ofScienceWriting)
ReadingsbyandaboutsciencejournalistBevOrndorff
Crashcourseinjournalismwriting
Homeworkassignments
Leadwritingexercise

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Findtwopossiblestoryideas

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Week3(Learning the Craft)

Tuesday,Sept.6
FieldGuide:Chapter5(TakingYourStorytotheNextLevel)andChapter6
(FindingaVoiceandaStyle)
ColumbiaJournalismReview:Wheredosciencejournalistsdrawtheline
PLOS.org:Whendoyoufactcheckarticlecontentwithsources?
Guestspeaker:BevOrndorff,retiredsciencewriterfortheRichmondTimesDispatch
andauthorofGeorgeGamow:TheWhimsicalMindBehindtheBigBang
Selectingafocusforyourfirststory
Interviewingskills
Journalismethicsandnorms
SocietyofProfessionalJournalistsCodeofEthics
Homeworkassignment
Contacttheresearcherorothersourcesforyourstory;setupaninterview.
Thursday,Sept.8
FieldGuide:Chapter2(ReportingfromScienceJournals)andChapter3
(UnderstandingandUsingStatistics)
JournalistsResource:Statisticaltermsusedinresearchstudies:Aprimerformedia
NationalScienceFoundation:ScienceandTechnology:PublicAttitudesandUnderstanding
Howtodobackgroundresearch:Generallibraryresourcesforidentifyingwhatshot
generally,andatspecificinstitutions(e.g.,VCU)
Homeworkassignment
Workonyourfirststory.
Week4(Learning the Craft)
Tuesday,Sept.13
NiemanJournalismLabarticle:Agroupofresearchersistryingtohelp
sciencejournalistsparseacademicarticlesondeadline
JournalistsResourcearticle:Academicresearchandstudies:Howtheyworkandwhy
journalistsshouldcare
JournalistsResourcearticle:Eightquestionstoaskwheninterpretingacademicstudies:
Aprimerformedia

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ColumbiaJournalismReview:SkepticalofScience:Amongothernewroles,
journalistsbecomingmorecriticalofresearch
Howtodobackgroundresearch:Subjectspecificresourcesinsocialscience
Homeworkassignment
Finishthedraftofyourfirststory.
Thursday,Sept.15
Adraftofyourfirststoryisdue.
Outletsforsciencejournalism
FieldGuide:IntroductiontoPartTwo:ChoosingYourMarket;Chapter7
(SmallNewspapers);Chapter8(LargeNewspapers);Chapter9(PopularMagazines);
Chapter10(TradeandScienceJournals)andChapter11(BroadcastScienceJournalism).
JournalistsResource:Researchchat:AndrewRevkinoncoveringandusingscholarship
Homeworkassignment
NewsUcourse:WhoseTruth:ToolsforSmartScienceJournalismintheDigitalAge
Week5(CoveringtheEnvironment)
Tuesday,Sept.20
FieldGuide:Chapter12(FreelanceWriting),Chapter13(ScienceBooks);Chapter14
(PopularAudiencesontheWeb);Chapter15(ScienceAudiencesontheWeb);
andChapter16(ScienceEditing)
StuartAllen:Introduction:ScienceJournalisminaDigitalAge(PDF)
23andYouandotherreadingsbyandaboutVirginiaHughes,scienceeditor
atBuzzFeedNews
AVCUlifescienceslibrarianwilladdressspecificsourcesforecologicaltopics.
Selectingafocusforyoursecondstory
Thursday,Sept.22
GoogleHangoutwithVirginiaHughes,whoisalsoavisitingscholar
ofjournalismatNewYorkUniversity
Homeworkassignments
WatchFlockofDodos:TheEvolutionIntelligentDesignCircus
Workonyoursecondstory.

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Week6(CoveringtheEnvironment)
Tuesday,Sept.27
FieldGuide:IntroductiontoPartFive:CoveringStoriesinthePhysicaland
EnvironmentalSciences;Chapter32(TheEnvironment);andChapter33(Nature)
JournalistsResource:Shiftingpublicopiniononclimatechange:
FactorsinfluencingconcernintheU.S.
Homeworkassignment
Workonyoursecondstory.
Thursday,Sept.29
FieldGuide:Chapter34(EarthSciences);Chapter35(Climate)
JournalistsResource:Fracking,shalegasandhealtheffects:Researchroundup
ReadingsbyandaboutMichelleNijhuis,authorofTheScienceWritersEssayHandbook:
HowtoCraftCompellingTrueStoriesinAnyMedium
JournalistsResource:Tipsforjournalistsworkingwithmath,statistics:Alistofkeyresources
Homeworkassignment
Workonyoursecondstory.
Week7(CoveringtheEnvironment)
Tuesday,Oct.4
FieldGuide:Chapter36(RiskReporting)
JournalistsResource:Reportingonhealthriskinmedicalstudies,pharmaceuticaltrials:
TipsfromThePoynterInstitute
TheNewYorkTimes:DeathbyMedicalError:AddingContexttoScaryHeadlines
GoogleHangoutwithMichelleNijhuis,sciencewriterforTheNewYorkTimes
Homeworkassignment
Finishthedraftofyoursecondstory.
Thursday,Oct.6
Adraftofyoursecondstoryisdue.
FieldGuide:IntroductiontoPartFour:CoveringStoriesintheLifeSciences;
Chapter23(Medicine);andChapter24(InfectiousDiseases)

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U.S.NationalLibraryofMedicine:Mercury,Vaccines,andAutism:
OneControversy,ThreeHistories
Homeworkassignment
ResearchmembersofourOct.13panel
Week8(CoveringHealthandMedicine)
Tuesday,Oct.11
FieldGuide:Chapter25(Nutrition);Chapter26(MentalHealth);andChapter27
(TheBiologyofBehavior)
TheWashingtonPost:FigmentsoftheImagination?(andQ&AWithReporter)
AlibrarianfromVCUsTompkinsMcCawLibrarywilladdressmedicalresearchresources.
Homeworkassignments:TBD
Thursday,Oct.13
Note:ScienceJournalismPaneldiscussion,67:30p.m.inJamesBranchCabellLibrary,
Classroom250
Panelists:

TimWheeler,formerpresidentoftheSocietyofEnvironmentalJournalists

ErikaEngelhaupt,onlinescienceeditorforNationalGeographic

TimAppenzeller,newseditorforthejournalScience

TammieSmith,longtimehealthandmedicalreporterfortheRichmondTimesDispatch

Week9(CoveringHealthandMedicine)
Tuesday,Oct.18
FieldGuide:Chapter28(HumanGenetics)andChapter29(HumanCloningandStemCells)
Sciencemagazine:FramingScience
ColumbiaJournalismReview:ScienceNeedsaStoryline:Thequestionisnotif,
buthowscientistsshouldframetheirresearch
Homeworkassignments:TBD
Thursday,Oct.20noclass;VCUreadingdays
Week10

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Tuesday,Oct.25
Midtermexam
Thursday,Oct.27
ReadingsbyandaboutJohnHorgan,authorofTheEndofScience:
FacingtheLimitsofScienceintheTwilightoftheScientificAge
Homeworkassignment
Proposeideasforyourfinalstory.
Week11(CoveringTechnology)
Tuesday,Nov.1
FieldGuide:Chapter30(TechnologyandEngineering)andChapter31(SpaceScience)
GoogleHangoutwithJohnHorgan,whowritestheCrossCheckblogfor

ScientificAmerican
AVCUtechnologylibrarianwilladdresscomputerscienceandengineeringresources.
Selectingafocusforyourfinalstory
Homeworkassignment
Workonyourfinalstory.
Thursday,Nov.3
FieldGuide:IntroductiontoPartThree:VaryingYourWritingStyle;Chapter17
(DeadlineWriting);andChapter18(InvestigativeReporting)
Homeworkassignment
Workonyourfinalstory.
Friday,Nov.4Wdate
Friday,Nov.4andSaturday,Nov.5:WewillhelpVCUgraduatestudentscraftabstractsand
pressreleasesabouttheirresearch.
Week12(CoveringTechnology)
Tuesday,Nov.8
FieldGuide:Chapter19(GeeWhizScienceWriting)andChapter20(ExplanatoryWriting)
Homeworkassignment

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Workonyourfinalstory.
Thursday,Nov.10
FieldGuide:Chapter21(NarrativeWriting)andChapter22(TheScienceEssay)
TheParisReview:Interview:JohnMcPhee,theArtofNonfictionNo.3
NewYorker:LettingGo:WhatShouldMedicineDoWhenItCantSaveYourLife?
(byAtulGawande)
DiscoverMagazine:DeconstructingGawande:WhyNarrativeandStructureAreImportant
Homeworkassignments:TBD
Week13(CoveringTechnology)
Tuesday,Nov.15
FieldGuide:TakingaDifferentPath:JournalistsandPublicInformationOfficers;
IntroductiontoPartSix:CommunicatingSciencefromInstitutions;Chapter37
(Universities);Chapter38(InstitutionalCommunicationsDuringCrisis);andChapter39
(GovernmentAgencies)
Newsweek:IstheInternetMakingUsCrazy?WhattheNewResearchSays
Mindhacks.com:No,theWebIsNotDrivingUsMad
Time.com:DoestheInternetReallyMakeEveryoneCrazy?
Homeworkassignments:TBD
Thursday,Nov.17
FieldGuide:Chapter40(Nonprofits);Chapter41(Museums);andChapter42
(CorporatePublicRelations)
Homeworkassignment
Finishyourfinalstory.
Week14
Tuesday,Nov.22
Adraftofyourfinalstoryisdue.
Homeworkassignments:TBD
Thursday,Nov.24noclass;Thanksgiving

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Week15
Tuesday,Nov.29
ReadingsbyandaboutWillHarlan,authorofUntamed:TheWildestWomaninAmerica
andtheFightforCumberlandIsland
Homeworkassignments:TBD
Thursday,Dec.1
GoogleHangoutwithWillHarlan,winnerofthe2015RachelCarsonEnvironmentBookAward
fromtheSocietyofEnvironmentalJournalists
Homeworkassignments:TBD
Week16
Tuesday,Dec.6
Wrappingupthecourse
Homeworkassignments:TBD
Thursday,Dec.8
Wrappingupthecourse
Finalexam:Tuesday,Dec.13,13:50p.m.