Science Blogging: The Essential Guide

by Christie Wilcox (Editor), Bethany Brookshire (Editor), Jason G. Goldman (Editor)

Overview

Here is the essential how-to guide for communicating scientific research and discoveries online, ideal for journalists, researchers, and public information officers looking to reach a wide lay audience. Drawing on the cumulative experience of twenty-seven of the greatest minds in scientific communication, this invaluable handbook targets the specific questions and concerns of the scientific community, offering help in a wide range of digital areas, including blogging, creating podcasts, tweeting, and more. With step-by-step guidance and one-stop expertise, this is the book every scientist, science writer, and practitioner needs to approach the Wild West of the Web with knowledge and confidence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780300197556
Publisher:	Yale University Press
Publication date:	03/01/2016
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Christie Wilcox blogs at Science Sushi, hosted by Discover. Bethany Brookshire writes Scicurious, hosted by Science News, and Eureka! Lab, hosted by Society for Science & the Public. Jason G. Goldman has written blogs for Scientific American, Conservation Magazine, Earth Touch News, io9, and more.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

1 To Blog or Not to Blog Christie Wilcox 1

2 From Page to Pixel: A Personal History of Science Blogging Carl Zimmer 13

3 How to Set Up a Science Blog Khalil A. Cassimally 21

4 Using Science Art and Imagery in a Blog Glendon Mellow 30

5 Building an Audience for Your Blog Ed Yong 41

6 Ethical Considerations for Science Bloggers Janet D. Stemwedel 50

7 The Deal with Networks Danielle N. Lee 60

8 Indie Blogging: On Being a "Ronin" Zen Faulkes 70

9 Getting Interactive Rose Eveleth 79

10 Brevity Is the Soul of Microblogging Joe Hanson 87

11 Science and the Art of Personal Storytelling Ben Lillie 96

12 Using Social Media to Diversify Science Alberto I. Roca 104

13 I'm Not Going to Tell You How to Be a Woman Science Blogger Kate Clancy 116

14 Blogging as an Early Career Journalist Colin Schultz 125

15 Institutional Blogging Karl Bates 133

16 Blogging as a Resource for Science Education Marie-Claire Shanahan 143

17 Communicating Science as a Graduate Student Jason C. Goldman 153

18 Blogging on the Tenure Track Greg Gbur 162

19 Metrics: Measuring the Success of Your Blog Matt Shipman 172

20 Toot Your Own Horn: Self-Promotion in Social Media Liz Neeley 181

21 Blogging at Scientific Conferences Travis Saunders Peter Janiszewski 192

22 Tackling the Hard Sciences Rhett Allain 205

23 Blogging about Controversial Topics Emily Willingham 215

24 Persuading the Unpersuadable: Deniers, Cynics, and Trolls Melanie Tannenbaum 224

25 Who's Paying? Science Blogging and Money Bethany Brookshire 233

26 From Science Blog to Book Brian Switek, Laetaps 243

Afterword Paige Jarreau 251

Acknowledgments 257

Index 259

Editorial Reviews

[Science Blogging] offers practical advice on such matters as ‘blogging about controversial topics’ and ‘persuading the unpersuadable.’ For example: Always link to the relevant research, avoid ‘muppet flailing’ (excessive fervor, I gather) and ‘don’t let the trolls get you down.’ Words not just to blog but to live by."—James Ryerson, New York Times Book Review

“An important and valuable guide for aspiring science writers of all stripes . . . approachable and insightful.”—Andrew David Thaler, Science

“Comprehensive and informative . . . [Science Blogging] can benefit and be appreciated by both novice and experienced science writers.”—Diane Martinez, Technical Communication

“Readable, accessible . . . It’s like taking a masterclass with the giants of science communication, as it distills their best science blogging tips and ideas.”—Sarah Boon, The CSP Blog (Canadian Science Publishing)

“This collection of essays and tips, wisdom and insight on science blogging should be considered a must-read. From its all-star editors to its remarkable contributors, Science Blogging: The Essential Guide offers a range of information suited to everyone from those curious about starting a blog to practitioners looking for ways to improve. The word ‘essential’ is often overused but in this case, it suits perfectly.”—Deborah Blum, Director of Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT and author of the Poison Pen blog for the New York Times

“Want to learn how to launch a blog, nurture an audience, and—gasp—get paid for it? Read this book. Everyone, from neophyte to veteran, will learn from the Who’s Who of science blogger contributors.”—Ivan Oransky, cofounder of Retraction Watch

“Once upon a time, science blogging was imagined to be a distraction from the serious business of Real Journalism™. Now it is journalism, and much more besides. This new collection offers a well written, rigorous, and timely atlas to its diverse approaches and best practices. Aspiring and veteran bloggers alike, take note: good stuff here.”—Thomas Levenson, MIT Graduate Program in Science Writing, and author of The Hunt for Vulcan

“Like the medium it covers, Science Blogging is by turns pragmatic, charming, wide ranging, and sharply argued. This is the guidebook science blogging deserves, and that every science blogger needs to read.”—Thomas Hayden, coeditor of The Science Writers’ Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Pitch, Publish, and Prosper in the Digital Age

From the Publisher

“Comprehensive and informative . . . [Science Blogging] can benefit and be appreciated by both novice and experienced science writers.”—Diane Martinez, Technical Communication

Technical Communication - Diane Martinez

“An important and valuable guide for aspiring science writers of all stripes . . . approachable and insightful.”—Andrew David Thaler, Science

Science - Andrew David Thaler

“[Science Blogging] offers practical advice on such matters as ‘blogging about controversial topics’ and ‘persuading the unpersuadable.’ For example: Always link to the relevant research, avoid ‘muppet flailing’ (excessive fervor, I gather) and ‘don’t let the trolls get you down.’ Words not just to blog but to live by."—James Ryerson, New York Times Book Review

New York Times Book Review - James Ryerson

“Like the medium it covers, Science Blogging is by turns pragmatic, charming, wide ranging, and sharply argued. This is the guidebook science blogging deserves, and that every science blogger needs to read.”—Thomas Hayden, coeditor of The Science Writers’ Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Pitch, Publish, and Prosper in the Digital Age

Thomas Hayden

“Once upon a time, science blogging was imagined to be a distraction from the serious business of Real Journalism™. Now it is journalism, and much more besides. This new collection offers a well written, rigorous, and timely atlas to its diverse approaches and best practices. Aspiring and veteran bloggers alike, take note: good stuff here.”—Thomas Levenson, MIT Graduate Program in Science Writing, and author of The Hunt for Vulcan

Thomas Levenson

“Want to learn how to launch a blog, nurture an audience, and—gasp—get paid for it? Read this book. Everyone, from neophyte to veteran, will learn from the Who’s Who of science blogger contributors.”—Ivan Oransky, cofounder of Retraction Watch

Ivan Oransky

“This collection of essays and tips, wisdom and insight on science blogging should be considered a must-read. From its all-star editors to its remarkable contributors, Science Blogging: The Essential Guide offers a range of information suited to everyone from those curious about starting a blog to practitioners looking for ways to improve. The word ‘essential’ is often overused but in this case, it suits perfectly.”—Deborah Blum, Director of Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT and author of the Poison Pen blog for the New York Times

Deborah Blum

“Good blogging, then, is a perverse and fiddly act of balancing the freedom to express yourself with the restraint that will make you readable . . . . The only constant—the only tip that always applies—is to have something to write, and to write it well.”—Ed Yong, Not Exactly Rocket Science

Ed Yong

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