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"Writing tips for the web" presentation from Abby Tabor given at Biovision Next - Lyon.
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Wri$ng Science for the Web
-‐ BIOVISION.Next 2013
Abby Tabor (@abbytabor)
Science Journalist
Wri7ng for the web
• Science blogging: A short history
• Why blog?
• Specifici7es of the web & how to take advantage
A short history of scien7fic blogging
• First plaEorms: late 90s – early 2000s – “countering an7-‐science claims”
• Research blogging: academic papers • Journals (PLOS), aggregators (ScienceBlogs), university blogs, individual researchers
Source: “Science Blogs – defini3on, and a history” by Bora Zivkovic, Scien3fic American (7/10/12)
Carl Zimmer
“Pharyngula”, PZ Myers’ personal blog
Why blog about science?
• ↑ visibility of your work • ↑ visibility of your knowledge & exper7se • Develop your e-‐reputa7on
= job opportuni3es
• See your science differently (context, impact) • Improve wri7ng skills
Length: Know your goal
• Online news is oYen shorter… • …but not always.
Know why you’re wri$ng this ar$cle. Simply to share a piece of news? Or to examine a complex issue?
How much detail? “Technical wri3ng sheds truth;
science wri3ng breeds understanding.” -‐ Kris7na Bjoran, science writer
• Tell only what you need to tell
• Interpret & dis7ll
• Express yourself simply: This is not academic wri7ng!
“No glory in long sentences.”
How much detail?, cont.
• Break it down, step by step
1 ar7cle = 1 goal/angle
1 paragraph = 1 message
1 sentence = 1 idea
The Beauty of Web Ar7cles Links “...provide depth in ways unique to the web medium.”
-‐ Robert Niles, in Online Journalism Review
• Cite your sources • Explain details / defini7ons • Open up discussion (Twieer, blogs: more info, connect & share)
But… • Clueer & distract • Lead reader away from your ar7cle
Use links when truly useful.
The Beauty of Web Ar7cles Images • A diagram or video may explain beeer • Beau7ful images draw us in • Very popular on Facebook & Twieer
• Many available in public domain/ Crea7ve Commons license
Source: CDC / Frank Collins
(Credit: Dr Jonathan Clarke. Wellcome Images. (Flickr/Rebecca-‐Lee))
Credit: Flickr / Liebe♥Gaby
Photo: Mike Bear
The Beauty of Web Ar7cles Images -‐ Free, open resources Crea3ve Commons license or public domain • Flickr.com • 500px.com • CDC -‐ Public Health Image Library (PHIL)
Copyright, with free use • NASA, ESA
Cite your source.
The Beauty of Web Ar7cles Visibility Google has needs, too. • Search Engine Op7miza7on (SEO) à key words in 7tle Make your 3tle tweetable. • < 140 characters lets Twieer users share your piece
Connect! The web is about connec7on. Use it!
Back to basics: Notetaking Prepare background
Don’t try to write every word • sure quotes • key data
Develop your own system • symbols, abbrevia7ons, drop vowels
Return to your notes ASAP & fill in blanks
The Beauty of Web Ar7cles Online Resources • The Open Notebook • NASW (Nat’l Associa7on of Science Writers)
• Duke Univ. Scien7fic Wri7ng Resource and… • Science bloggers!
Thank you. Hope to see you & your science on the web!