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Why journalists risk their lives
Why do journalists risk their lives? What makes them do so?
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11 things I am tracking in 2019 for my freelancing and why
Marisa Wikramanayake discusses what she tracks as a freelancer so that she can be a better journalist and editor.
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The writing plan for June
It’s June today. A June day, today, let’s say since June began the day before yesterday. On this June day my TBR is neither pile nor stack, it is a scatter instead, in bags, on shelves, across the floor, under laptops and beds. It’s also not To Be Read but rather like quantum, a mix between the two, some To Be Read but some also read already so To Be Reviewed. I need a plan.
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Interviewing as the science journalist
This was an area of great interest and concern when I curated the @realscientists Twitter account a couple of months ago. People had their horror stories and others wanted to know how it should be done. We tried to get a live interview up and running so people could actually watch me in action but time zones and technology conspired against us. Maybe one day we will manage it. If you are a scientist who would be up for a mock interview via a G+ hangout to be archived on Youtube let me know. Preparation: Research the person and the story and the science involved. Set up your notebook and…
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2013's very odd resolution list
This being the start of 2013, of course everyone is talking about New Year Resolutions. In fact, come December 1st everyone starts ruminating on this topic. And then of course there is a lot of angst over what one hasn’t done yet and that horrible nagging feeling that somehow you are running out of time to do X, Y and Z and therefore be happy. So in the interests of preserving some sanity here, because let’s be honest, me being me, I have very little sanity or so people tell me, let’s do this differently. What was 2012 like? Well, lets see. It was unexpectedly social at points – in…
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Live Tweet: The National Carbon Capture & Storage Conference, Perth
I am reporting on the National Carbon Capture & Storage Conference in Perth (part of National CCS Week) for Science Network WA. I am hoping to curate all the tweets live from the conference in this post so if it works and you cannot follow the hashtag #ccsconference then check back here and follow the conversation below. I am also hoping to live blog the event and I will add the twitter feed to the end of any posts I do. this is very much an experiment so cross your fingers! Tweets about “#ccsconference”
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Mentoring
At a Society of Editors (WA) meeting tonight, I was asked to be a mentor by an enthusiastic wannabe editor. I was both amused and flattered. She made a distinction between advice and ongoing support – someone who would show her the ropes and keep her from freaking out too much along the way. You have to admire her enthusiasm and the fact that she stepped forward and asked. It got me thinking. When I first started I desperately wanted a mentor too. I didn’t get one. These days, I blog about what I know and as I said to someone this week, I am happy to meet up one…
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False balance: A science journalism pitfall
Earlier tonight (1 Oct 2012), the program MediaWatch (a program that critiques the media in Australia), aired the fact that WIN TV in covering a story on the measles vaccine had stated that the vaccine was still thought to be linked to the occurrence of autism and that the scientific community was in debate over it and had quotes from the Australian Vaccination Network stating as such. Transcript, video & documents from the MediaWatch program are here for those playing along at home. Quick background info: Most of the scientific community is NOT debating over this and so far the medical advice is to give your children the MMR (measles, mumps,…
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Designated Director Designate designates direction for marine research
Date published: 11th March 2011 Publication: Science Network WA Editor: Jason Boudville Author/Photographer: Marisa Wikramanayake Title: Oceans Institute announces new Director Link to full article: Oceans Institute announces new Director
