Science writer
Science writers cover fields which are undergoing rapid advances and changes, giving them the chance to report on exciting and ground-breaking developments
Science writers research, write and edit scientific news, articles and features. They write for business, trade and professional publications, specialist scientific and technical journals
, and the general media.
Writers need to understand complex scientific information, theories and practices. They should be able to write in clear, concise and accurate language that can be understood by the general public.
Science writers are sometimes known as scientific journalists. They report on scientific news for the media, sometimes taking on a more investigatory, critical role.
Science writing for non-media outlets involves communicating scientific research to a professional or lay audience, either for journals, promotional brochures and websites or as press releases.
Some science writing jobs might have an element of editing or broader communications responsibilities in addition to researching and writing.
Responsibilities
The particular activities a science writer undertakes depends upon the nature of their role and who they are writing for. Common activities include:
Salary
Salary level depends on the type of work the writer undertakes, the type of employer and how much experience the writer has. Salaries vary widely between regions and publications.
Internships tend to be minimum wage or bursary supported.
Freelancers are paid for each individual piece of work. Most outlets have standard fees, including set amounts for small articles and per-word prices for longer articles. As a reference, many writers use the NUJ Freelance Fees Guide.
Income figures are intended as a guide only.
Working hours
Working hours vary, although if you're working in-house you'll typically be working 9-5. However, science writers sometimes have to work long hours to meet deadlines, so you'll need a flexible approach to working extra to accommodate breaking news and in-depth, time consuming projects.
What to expect
Qualifications
Broadly speaking, there are two routes you can take to become a science writer:
Most science writers have a science degree and sometimes even a postgraduate science qualification. A scientist can either start writing immediately upon graduation, or can move into the industry after several years of scientific research.
Sometimes writers with science degrees take on a further postgraduate qualification in journalism or scientific communications in order to further their scientific writing careers. These courses aim to help those from a science-based background distill complex information to a level that the general public can understand.
Degrees specifically in science communication, available from a range of UK universities, will prepare you for a career in science writing by honing a variety of skills, including:
Jobs in science communication are generally on the rise, while fewer science journalism roles are offered in comparison.
It is important to research which topics are covered on each programme you consider, what graduates of the programme go on to do and if any work experience and networking opportunities are incorporated, as course structure will vary between institutions.
If you're looking to get into science journalism in particular, it's important to check if the course is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).
Alternatively, a trained journalist or reporter can become a specialist in the area of science writing. Entering the journalism industry can be done in a number of ways. This may include taking an undergraduate degree in journalism or completing a degree in a different subject and then studying for a postgraduate qualification in journalism.
See newspaper journalist and magazine journalist for more information, or begin your search for postgraduate journalism courses.
Skills
You need to be able to show:
Work experience
You must be able to offer a portfolio of work. Recruiters will want to see as many published examples of your writing as possible as evidence of your ability, and not just a list of your qualifications.
Look for work experience opportunities at:
Starting your own blog will enable you to compile a ready-made portfolio of work, which you can show to prospective employers.
Alternatively, there are various science writing and communication competitions which you could enter to gain recognition - many are advertised on the Psci-com Mailing List. Winning any type of writing award or prize will make you to stand out from the crowd and could help launch your career.
Professional development
Training differs greatly and depends on the organisation. Trainees within large newspaper and magazine organisations normally receive formal training. After an initial probationary period, most trainee journalists follow basic journalism training under the terms of a training contract.
Typically, once a journalist has worked for 18 months they will take the NCTJ National Certificate Exams (NCE), which qualify them as a senior journalist.
In order to sit these exams, the journalist must first have passed the NCTJ preliminary exams.
Journalists in larger organisations may also receive structured training in:
Writers working for smaller and non-media organisations will likely receive informal, on-the-job training. This includes receiving feedback from editors, peers and clients, and learning from more experienced colleagues.
In general, writers must be open minded, able to accept criticism and willing to make changes to their writing style. As a writer, you'll also learn to improve your writing through regularly reading the work of other good scientific communicators.
It is important to keep up to date with any advances in the science industry. Attending science-related conferences and gaining membership to any relevant professional bodies are a way of maintaining an ongoing knowledge of the industry.
Career prospects
Many trainees begin their career working in local media or publications with a small audience. After building up their portfolio, writers can aim to work for larger media organisations with a wider audience.
Many senior journalists and correspondents freelance across print, broadcast and online journalism and some go on to write science books. After several years, writers can try to move to more senior editorial roles.
Career advancement at all stages depends on ability, performance and initiative. Writers who want to advance should seek out every opportunity to get a good article in front of an editor and preferably published by a respected organisation.
It is vitally important to network with fellow professionals in order to advertise your name and abilities to colleagues, both in person (by attending events and calling people) and online. Many science writers find that Twitter and LinkedIn are useful tools for online networking.
A great source of information for all working journalists is the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), which offers the chance to network with others in the profession. Another useful organisation is the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW).
You might also find good advice from these American equivalents:
Membership can provide access to industry contacts, advice on freelance pay and information on key events and news, which can all help with networking and progression.
A move to other types of science writing is a possibility. For example, science information officers work for universities, private research foundations, government agencies and laboratories, technology corporations, science and technology museums, charities and non-profit science and health organisations. The main duties include preparing press releases and other materials explaining research at their institutions and aiding science journalists in preparing stories on that research.
Science writers can also move into technical or medical writing. Medical writers are a specific type of science writer working for pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations (CROs) and communications agencies. They document and communicate scientific research for the purposes of:
For more information about medical writing and communications, see:
Writers may wish to move into production, working on page layout and headlines as a sub-editor. Those with relevant skills can move into related occupations in broadcast journalism, either as a researcher, reporter or presenter. Opportunities are likely to increase as digital media expands, while print media opportunities may decline.
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