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D.C. Science Writer's Association professional development workshop

Posted on March 12, 2008 11:05 PM |Permalink |Comments (0)

DCSWA's Professional Development Day 2008

Join DCSWA for an all-day professional development workshop. Sessions
include an inside look at award-winning investigative science
journalism, how to write and sell a science book, learning to podcast,
how to file a FOIA request, and a train-the-trainer media training
session for PIOs.

When: Sat. March 29th, 9am - 4:30pm

Where: AAAS Headquarters, 12th and H Streets, NW, downtown Washington.
One block from Metro Center metro station. Enter door at 12th and H
Streets.

Registration: $50 ($25 for students), which includes continental
breakfast and lunch. Go to www.dcswa.org to register.

Schedule:

8:30a-9:00a Registration and continental breakfast

9:00a-10:45a Inside award-winning investigative science journalism. Join
three top-notch investigative reporters as they share the secrets of
their success. Ken Weiss, of the Los Angeles Times, will detail his
Pulitzer Prize-winning series "Altered Oceans." Dina Cappiello, who
covers the environment for Congressional Quarterly, will discuss her
award-winning 2005 series "In Harm's Way." And Dan Fagin, winner of the
top AAAS and NASW science writing awards and head of New York
University's science journalism program, will discuss the future of
investigative science journalism.

11:00a-12:30p Breakout sessions - choose one on the registration page

Podcasting - A hands-on course. Science magazine's podcaster, Rob
Frederick, and Chris Condayan, the pod- and video-caster for the
American Society for Microbiology, will walk participants through the
steps needed to produce top-notch podcasts. Limited to 25 participants.
If interested, please register for just one of the two podcasting
sessions.

Pitch slam!-Discover what top editors are looking for and hear instant
feedback to your own and other writers' pitches. Your pitch may be
rough, and it has to be short. Each volunteer will have one minute to
stand up and make a case for a story. Four D.C. editors will share tips
on which elements of the pitch worked best and how to make it better.
All are welcome to watch the session. Sign up at the registration desk
or during the session if you'd like to pitch. Receiving your pitches:
Laura Helmuth, science editor for Smithsonian magazine; Ben Harder,
deputy editor for health/science at U.S. News & World Report; David
Grimm, editor of ScienceNOW; and Meg Guroff, health editor for AARP
magazine.

12:30p-1:30p Lunch - included in registration fee

1:30p-2:45p How to sell and write a top science book. A rare opportunity
to hear three perspectives on the ever-changing world of trade (code
word for "popular") science books. Join a successful author, a top
agent, and a high-profile editor as they share their experiences.
Featuring agent Susan Rabiner, who's been running her own agency
(www.rabiner.net) for a decade. Susan is a former book editor and the
co-author of Thinking Like Your Editor; she has mid-wifed many
bestsellers. Author Steve Olson's 2002 book Mapping Human History was a
finalist for the National Book Award. And editor Emily Loose shepherds
science books onto the shelves for Simon & Schuster.

3:00p-4:30p Break-out sessions- choose one on the registration page

Podcasting - A hands-on course. Science magazine's podcaster, Rob
Frederick, and Chris Condayan, the pod- and video-caster for the
American Society for Microbiology, will walk participants through the
steps needed to produce top-notch podcasts. Limited to 25 participants.
If interested, please register for just one of the two podcasting
sessions.

Inside the Freedom of Information Act - Whether you're a FOIA novice or
a pro, this session points up some of the ins and outs of prying
information from your government.

Training the Trainers - A course for PIOs - Nearly every public
information officer will have occasion to train a scientist in dealing
with the media. In this session, professional media trainers will help
you help them.

*********************
Brian Vastag
Science Journalist
bv@brianvastag.net
202-236-0979 (cell)
www.brianvastag.net
*********************

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