Article Writing

Dave FinleyPublic Information Officer

National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Outline

Background & Experience

Types of Articles

Writing Process: Working Example

Adapting the Writing to the Audience

Advice for Scientific Writing

Background & Experience

Degrees: Political Science & Geology

Newspapers: Miami Herald Sci/Med Editor

Supercomputer Centers: Documentation

NRAO: Public Information Officer

On the Side: Occasional Freelance

Hobbies: Astronomy, Ham Radio, Aviation

Types of Writing

NewspapersMiami Herald, Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer,Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque Tribune, etc.

MagazinesAstronomy, Air & Space, Mercury, QST, Radio Fun,Lite Geology, Southern Sky, NM Journal of Science

BooksAuthor: Morse Code: Breaking the BarrierEditor: Radio Interferometry: The Saga and the ScienceChapter Author: Preserving the Astronomical Sky

Organizations & Strategies in Astronomy IIIState of the Universe 2008

Writing Process

Working Example:Press Release

● Scientific Content● Target: General Public● Often Used Verbatim● Process Essentially Same as for Magazine Article, etc.

Writing Process

Basic Principle: Learn First, Write Next

● Read the Scientific/Technical Paper

● Interview Author(s), Clarify & Amplify Important Points

● Identify Potential Graphics, Get Work Started on Them

● Prepare Draft

● Review Draft with Author(s), Revise

● Endure Institutional Review Process

● Assemble Text/Graphics Package

● Issue Release/Publish on Web

Adapting the Material to the Audience

Original: Technical Paper, Jargon, Equations, Complex Graphs & Charts

Press Release/Article: Language for Nonscientists

Adapting the Material to the Audience

Know and understand the material

Translate the jargon

Help develop simplified graphics

Put plain-language explanations into quotes

Explain the background

Put the new discovery into context

Advice for Scientific Writing

Living in Interesting Times

Some Unchanged/Unchanging Essentials

The Media Revolution

Old

NewspapersMagazinesEvening News

New

Online EditionsWeb PublicationsCable NetworksBlogsPodcastsVodcastsYouTubeFacebook

What Hasn't Changed, and Won't

Good StorytellingLively WritingClarityAccuracy

Summary

Understand Your Topic

Understand Your Audience

Keep It Lively

Keep It Accurate

Keep Up With Technology, Trends

Enjoy the Ride!