Careers in journalism can be rewarding for scientists who have a way with words. Virginia Gewin reveals what it takes to be a scribe

摘要

If you love science but hate lab work, trading the monotony of running gels for the creative buzz of writing may sound appealing. But before you abandon the bench and grab your laptop, make sure you understand the odds and options ahead. A staff position as a science journalist is as rare as it is coveted. In fact, many more opportunities exist for public information officers or freelance writers. Whatever the position, the ability to communicate is the common denominator. People who write about science for a living fall into two broad categories. "There's science journalism and science writing, and those are two different things," says Deb Blum, president of the US National Association of Science Writers (NASW), which promotes both roles. Of the 2,300 members in the NASW, some 1,400 are journalists — only 500 of whom have staff positions. The remaining 900 members are science writers working as public information officers at universities, government science agencies or research institutions. These public relations (PR) positions are stable, well-paid jobs that can allow writers to hone their skills, and can still lead to journalistic pursuits.