Science Journalism Organizations
On this page, you'll find a list of organizations and associations focused on supporting science journalists and writers.
Society of Environmental Journalists
Link: SEJ
About: “The Society of Environmental Journalists is the only North American membership association of professional journalists dedicated to more and better coverage of environment-related issues. SEJ’s mission is to strengthen the quality, reach and viability of journalism across all media to advance public understanding of environmental issues.”
Association of Healthcare Journalists
Link: Association of Healthcare Journalists
About: AHCJ is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public understanding of health care issues. Its mission is to improve the quality, accuracy and visibility of health care reporting, writing, and editing. AHCJ has more than 1,500 members.
National Association of Science Writers
Link: NASW
About: “The National Association of Science Writers is a community of journalists, authors, editors, producers, public information officers, students and people who write and produce material intended to inform the public about science, health, engineering, and technology. NASW promotes the professional interests of science writers nationally and globally, plays an active role in supporting efforts to ensure writers are paid for their work, and advocates for copyright protections for writers.”
World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ)
Link: WFSJ
About: "The World Federation of Science Journalists is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that represents 63 science journalists’ associations and 10,000 individual science and technology journalists from around the world. The WFSJ encourages strong, critical coverage of issues in science and technology, the environment, health and medicine, agriculture, and other fields. WFSJ advances science journalism as a bridge between science, scientists, and the public; promotes the role of science journalists as key players in civil society and democracy; improves the quality of science reporting, promotes standards, supports science and tech journalists around the world."
The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing
Link: CASW
About: A panel of journalists, science communications specialists and scientists committed to improving the “quantity and quality” of science news reaching the public. They fund programs to help reporters and writers develop accurate and informative stories. Main initiatives include the ‘New Horizons in Science’ briefing held annually with the National Association of Science Writers, travel fellowships to the New Horizons briefing, scholarships for students studying science writing, coordinating science writer visits to small publications and scientific institutions/laboratories to discuss science writing, and the administration of annual prize (Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting).
The D.C. Science Writers Association
Link: DCSWA
About: “We're a group of science journalists and communicators. Membership benefits include access to the job board, networking opportunities, social events, the Quacker (our newsletter) and professional development workshops.”
New England Science Writers
Link: NESW Online
About: “New England Science Writers is a professional organization of 200-plus reporters, freelancers, PIOs, producers, bloggers and authors whose work intersects science and technology. NESW provides forums to learn, explore, discuss, network and keep up with the rapidly changing world of science communication. We are based in greater Boston and serve members throughout New England.”
Northern California Science Writers Association
Link: NCSWA
About: “The Northern California Science Writers Association (NCSWA) was established in 1978 and currently has more than 200 members who live and work in Northern California. NCSWA members reside in locales that range from Santa Cruz to Sea Cliff and from Sacramento to San Francisco. The largest group of us lives in San Francisco, the East Bay, and Silicon Valley. We are a diverse group that includes newspaper science reporters, popular and trade magazine writers and editors, radio and television broadcasters, public information officers, marketing copywriters, and technical writers. Our members cover such topics as agriculture, anthropology, astronomy, behavior, biology, chemistry, computers, earth sciences, environmental issues, medicine, and physics.”
SoCal Science Writing
Link: SoCal Science Writing
About: “SoCal Science Writing is a regional group of science writers, editors, and PIOs based in southern California, run by independent journalists. Our goal is to foster connections between local science writers, improve the professional lives of our group members, and ultimately enhance the public understanding of science.”
Science Writers in New York
Link: SWINY
About: “The membership of Science Writers in New York (SWINY) is composed of editors and writers who cover science and medicine in the print and electronic news media as well as public relations professionals who promote science. Anyone with an interest in science communication is welcome to become a dues paying member, and non-members are encouraged to attend our events.”
