Feed frenzy at the World Federation

The World Federation of Science Journalists has found time to rework its web site. "This third iteration of our website is designed to give you a better insight at the world of science journalism, and we mean the whole world!"

A part of the redesign is a set of new RSS Feed. As well as a news stream, which everyone should feed as much as possible, there is a new WFSJ blog.

They aren't the easiest feeds to plug into your reader – we had to enter them manually into Google Reader – but you can't have everything. Some of the best organisations also seem to have a hard time with this technology.

Learn science journalism from the comfort of your home

The World Federation of Science Journalists has launched what is describes as "the world’s first online course in science journalism".

The WFSJ, working with the Science and Development Network (SciDev.Net), launched the new venture at “Science Journalism meets Science in Qatar,” hosted by the Aljazeera Network and Qatar Foundation from 3 to 9 February 2008.

The course itself consists of a series of eight modules, including interviewing, writing skills and "reporting on controversies". There are also some "self-teaching questions" and assignments for students.

WFSJ Skypes up a press briefings

Over on its blog, the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ), Christina Scott has an account of using Skype, the "telephone over the internet" service, for science briefings in Africa. The account on WFSJ News describes it as "an innovation that improves science journalism and interaction between journalists and scientists across the continent".

"Skype has many advantages," says Scott. "No longer does science communication require visa arguments and jet lag for a big international conference, or a hair-raising journey across town and countryside in unreliable public transport, or traffic jams."

Readers in the richer parts of the world may find it hard to understand the problems that reporters have in joining something that most of us take for granted. As Scott reports, "An internet café in Ghana asked Frederick Baffour Opoku of Accra for the insane amount of 70 US dollars to use Skype. Charles Mkoka of Malawi had to travel long distances to find an cybercafé with a sound card, only to discover that the owner had not downloaded the latest version of Skype, and he was out in the cold."

Skype has its positive side that many of us might appreciate. The piece quotes Esther Nakkazi, a Ugandan reporter currently studying at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as appreciating voice-over-internet-protocol because it is not as intimidating as a press conference. It "breaks down the bureaucratic barriers that sometimes make scientists impossible to contact for clarification" she told Scott. "With Skype you can get to the scientist and cross-check any information once you see them online which is very easy," says Nakkazi.

London's WCSJ web site

It was only while browsing the web site of the World Federation of Science Journalists that we discovered that someone has quietly assembled a site for the 6th World Conference of Science Journalists. It isn't just a marker in the sand either, there is some real detail there of the aspirations for the programme.

We'll have to add a link to the ABSW's various web sites. Then we can ask them to put all link back to use on the page about the ABSW.

Only two years to go before the big event. Start preparing now! Especially if you can sponsor the event in some way.

An ice breaking competition for science journalists

Here is a Competition for science journalists with a real prize, "a week aboard an Arctic icebreaker". And that includes "transportation from your home country".

In April 2008, you could join "journalists from all over the world for a week aboard the Canadian research icebreaker Amundsen".

The World Federation of Science Journalists—in collaboration with the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the International Polar Year Circumpolar Flaw Lead Project—announces a competition offering science journalists the chance to win one of three week-long trips aboard the Canadian research icebreaker Amundsen. You will fly all the way to Inuvik (Canada), and hop aboard a Twin Otter aircraft to the famous icebreaker, where you will get first hand experience of global warming where it is unfolding the fastest.

The last time I was in Inuvik, a good 20 years ago, it was like the Wild West with snow. But a very interesting church building. That was back when the oil business was booming. And, boy, did the ice need breaking? The oil rigs were miles out to "sea" beneath many feet of ice, which our plane landed on.