newswriting in science

1. Science News- just like news writing, Science News is a kind o news that
is commonly state a discovery of something or an event that pertains to
Science and Technology-
It aims to convey information quickly
Usually quite short and direct
Science Feature- is often written after a Science event,
It is aimed at readers who want to know more and broaden their
understanding
It is written creatively (ginagamitan ng mabulaklak na salita)

2. How to write Science News
1. Keep your audience in mind
• It is important when you write simple science news to
keep your audience in mind. Be mindful that most
people do not study science after school – or the level
at which it is compulsory. So, readers might not be
familiar with scientific terms. For those who did study
a field of science, they might not be familiar with the
technical language of different fields.

3. 2. Use Relevant example
When writing science news,compare them with something
the audience knows well and can relate to help them
visualize.
•For example: You may not always need scientific
exactness. Often, you’ll need to use approximations. For
example, if an object has a diameter of nine inches,
describe it as about the size of a soccer ball. This will help
your audience visualise it.
•Think about ordinary things that you can compare with
your concept.

4. 3. Make sure you understand the information
Complexity creeps into Science stories when
writers are unclear about the Science itself. So,
before your start to write simple Science news,
make sure you understand the information.
Make sure you have done your background
reading and relevant research before starting to
write a Science story.

5. 4. Use a simple outline
To write simple Science news stories, it helps to create a simple
outline before you start. The oldest and most used structure in
news is the inverted pyramid. This is where you start with the
most important facts first. Try fitting as many of the who, what,
why, when and how in the first sentence or paragraph as
possible.
Then follow with the next most important facts, and then the
next. Keep going until you have covered the main points of your
story but aim to keep the story as short as possible. Most news
stories are between 500-800 words.

7. 4. Use simple language
• When writing write simple science news it is vital to use simple language. We explain
how the goal of a journalist is to collect information from various sources, package it
accurately and transmit it to their audience.
• The audience receives the information through a medium – a written article, a podcast
or a video. They then interpret that information and act upon it. Any barrier along this
chain such as technical language acts as a hurdle to this process. It can disrupt clear
communication as well as any goals you might have from the story.
• Keep in mind that you will be communicating through your story with non-specialists.
Avoid using jargon. Replace it with everyday phrases and words. For example, a CNN
story used the phrase “remnants of the virus” instead of “RNA fragments”. Use cancer-
causing instead of carcinogenic.
• Explain technical terms if you must use them. the International Journalists’ Network
created this handy list of medical terms that you are likely to come across when
reporting on COVID-19. It can help you in interpreting and simplifying the terms.

8. 5. Use real life example
•Make use of real-life examples to help you write
science news. This helps your audience
understand what you are explaining and make it
relatable.
•Global warming is a subject that affects real
people. Start by talking about global warming.
Then share the effects of temperature changes
like rising sea levels. Then tell the stories of
people displaced by rising sea levels.

9. 7. Use statistics sparingly
Use fewer numbers in a sentence
•Use familiar fractions to replace percentages
•Limit the number of digits and decimal places
•For example, write ‘The global population is 7.6
billion people’ instead of ‘The world has
7,632,819,325 inhabitants’. Or write ‘nearly half’
instead of ‘49.53%’.

10. • A novel CRISPSR Cas 9 system for genome editing in plants
How Scientists can change plant genes with scissors.

11. • The Effects of Climate Change on Coral Reef
How…
• The History of Vaccines
How…
• The Importance of Sleep
Why…