The Open Notebook

The Craft of Science Writing An indispensable guide for media professionals, scientists, and educators who want to hone their science writing craft or provide a resource for students.

And for more about the Craft of Science Writing, a deeply sourced inclusive guide to science writing, published by @uchicagopress.bsky.social, go here 👇. www.theopennotebook.com/the-craft-of...

Science Journalism Forum virtual multilingual global event where science journalists, writers, publishers, scientists, students, and academia can share new ideas and thoughts in science journalism

This year’s #SJF25 theme is “Science Journalism at a Crossroads: Rethinking Trust, Funding, and Innovation”—and we’ll be there for a panel! Head to sciencejf.com for 50% off tickets with code TON50.

Science Journalism Forum virtual multilingual global event where science journalists, writers, publishers, scientists, students, and academia can share new ideas and thoughts in science journalism

What does trust in science journalism mean to you?

We're getting ready for #SJF25 and want to hear from you. Share your response below for a chance to receive 1 or 10 free e-books of “The Craft of Science Writing.”

Are you going to #SciWri25 in Chicago in November? IT'S PARTY TIME! Come wish @theopennotebook.bsky.social a happy 15th birthday on Saturday 11/8, 7-10 pm, at the Harp & Fiddle pub in Uptown Park Ridge, ~2 miles from the meeting hotel. Details are under 'meet-ups' in the conference Whova app. 🎂🎉

A picture of a black tote bag that says "The Open Notebook. Every story is a science story." It includes the spiral notebook logo of The Open Notebook.

You asked. We made it!

In celebrating 15 years of TON, we've finally created merch -from T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, hats, totes—and yes, notebooks!—to represent TON out in the world. Yes, we have special 15th birthday merch, too! #TON15 www.bonfire.com/store/the-op...

✍️Science Writing News Roundup #252 Science Reporting Navigator + Covering Null Results + How to spot predatory journals.

This week in the Science Writing News Roundup: How to cover ongoing chaos in science funding (@sciencewriting.bsky.social) + How to spot predatory journals (@journoresource.bsky.social) + Covering null results (@theopennotebook.bsky.social), and more: sciencewriting.substack.com/p/science-wr... 🧪

The logo of the Trans Journalists Association, which includes a stylized T in teal, J in purple, and A in yellow, accompanied by the full name of the organization spelled out in black text.

How to:
🔘 Understand reports on trans youth health care
🔘 Report on EOs targeting trans Americans
🔘 Report on polls about trans issues

From TON and @transjournalists.org, here’s a free collection of resources for all journalists. 🧪 www.theopennotebook.com/resources-fo...

We launched this free resource today and we're grateful to our @transjournalists.org friends, @petrinkae.bsky.social and @trevellanderson.bsky.social, for their partnership. Many of the issues that affect transgender people tend to be politicized and mired in misinformation. Let's do better.

Resources for Evidence-Based Reporting on Transgender Communities - The Open Notebook Many of the issues that affect transgender people—such as gender-affirming medical care, educational policy, sports participation, military service, gender-motivated hate crime, and workplace discrimi...

Today, #SCOTUS will rule on a conversion therapy ban in CO. If you're a journalist covering the case, make sure to check out this free resource we created in partnership with @transjournalists.org to help you engage in responsible, evidence-based reporting.

Connector Chats are back! Join us 10/9 for a discussion about covering chaos in federal science funding, with
@stephaniemlee.bsky.social, @katherinejwu.com, and @scott-delaney.bsky.social.

Can't make it? Register to get the recording and tipsheet after the event.

bit.ly/casw-funding

Some fantastic resources here, including tips on reading scientific papers, finding scientists to interview, and more. When I oversaw writers, science stories were far and away the ones people struggled with the most, and a lot of the issues are more preventable than you might think.

The Open Notebook Early-Career Fellowship

For science journalists (or aspiring science journalists!)
🔸fewer than 3yrs of regular professional science writing exp
Length: 12 months
Start: Feb 23, 2026
🌏Location: Remote
💰Stipend: $6,600
⭕Deadline: Oct 31, 2025
#ScienceJournalism #SciWri #fellowship

it’s Science Reporting Navigator day! 🎉

this incredible toolkit from @theopennotebook.bsky.social & @rjionline.bsky.social will help journalists fold science into all kinds of reporting.

as a former local reporter, it was a joy to play a small part in bringing this resource to life. check it out!

An image with a train, in shades of gray and yellow for the National Association of Science Writers 2025 annual meeting November 7-9 in Chicago.

The last day to sign up for @sciencewriters.org #SciWri25 in Chicago is 10/22 but don't miss today's early bird discount deadline (10/1). sciencewriters2025.org 🧪

I sat down with @willvh.bsky.social and @theopennotebook.bsky.social to discuss points for reporters to keep in mind when covering communities that are not their own, specifically Indigenous communities.
Grateful to share the pages w/ @mariaparazorose.bsky.social who brings up some important points.

(Sorry for the Bluesky fail, @sriyareddy.bsky.social! Making sure to get you and @innovationrji.bsky.social tagged here!)

The story behind the story, a TON specialty!

An image that describes the launch of a new resource called the Science Reporting Navigator. The launch includes a free webinar on Oct. 23 at 2 pm CT from The Open Notebook and Reynolds Journalism Institute. The text on the image says: Confidently incorporate scientific evidence, perspectives, or context into your reporting -- no matter your bear or deadline. The link to register for the webinar can be found at bit.ly/NavigatorLaunch

To help get you started, we’re offering a free Science Reporting Navigator webinar, in partnership with @rjionline.bsky.social, on Oct. 23 at 2 pm CT. Register here at bit.ly/NavigatorLaunch. Join us!

Meet the Team Behind the Science Reporting Navigator - The Open Notebook ← Return to Science Reporting Navigator The Science Reporting Navigator was created through a partnership between The Open Notebook and the Reynolds Journalism Institute to help journalists integrate ...

The Science Reporting Navigator came to life thanks to the efforts of TON’s @rachelzamzow.bsky.social, @kaatefishman.bsky.social, and @siricarpenter.bsky.social, as well as @rjionline.bsky.social’s Sriya Reddy and @kataduncan.bsky.social.

Science Reporting Navigator - The Open Notebook Bring Scientific Evidence into Any Beat Every story is a science story. From education and public health to transportation and local policy, science intersects with every beat journalists cover. The S...

And there is a virtual spinning wheel to help you brainstorm which experts to reach out to, and another to help you determine how science plays into evergreen stories. The Science Reporting Navigator also contains a matching game and a multiple choice quiz to help guide your reporting choices.

Reading Scientific Papers - The Open Notebook

Honestly, it’s SUCH a cool tool, and it’s free and we want you to use it! Did you know the Science Reporting Navigator includes an interactive example research article, where you can click on different sections with pop-ups that tell you the kinds of information you will find there?

Glossary - The Open Notebook ← Navigator Home Page Glossary

The Science Reporting Navigator also offers a collection of resources, from lists of questions for interviewing scientists, to the demystification of parts of a scientific paper and templates for science explainers and stories about studies. Also, a handy glossary.

Reading Scientific Papers - The Open Notebook

You can also find 10 standalone lessons, on topics like “How to Read a Scientific Paper” and “How to Critically Evaluate Claims,” with interactive features and elements to help you in your reporting. The tool helps break otherwise daunting tasks down into digestible components.

Investigate an Ongoing Community Issue - The Open Notebook ← Navigator Home Page Investigate an Ongoing Community Issue Learn how to find scientific data, track trends, and vet your understanding with experts. For persistent problems in your community, such a...

So, what is it? The Science Reporting Navigator includes 6 learning paths, like “Investigate an Ongoing Community Issue”, with helpful interactive lessons, including how to find science sources, and resources like a collection of data analysis tools.

Introducing the Science Reporting Navigator - The Open Notebook The Science Reporting Navigator stands ready to walk you through complex reporting scenarios to integrate science into any beat. The Open Notebook and the Reynolds Journalism Institute are thrilled to...

Every Story is a Science Story. That’s why, with @rjionline.bsky.social, TON has been hard at work developing a free tool to make it easier for journalists on any beat to strengthen their stories by incorporating science. And today, that tool - the Science Reporting Navigator - is live! 🧪

Cómo cubrir resultados nulos: convirtiendo “nada” en noticia - The Open Notebook Los resultados nulos —aquellos que contradicen la hipótesis original de un estudio o no logran encontrar un vínculo de causa y efecto entre variables— pueden ser fáciles de descartar como no noticias,...

Cubrir resultados nulos puede ayudar a los periodistas a contribuir a una visión más precisa de la ciencia y el mundo, escribe Lucila Pinto, becaria de @bwfund.bsky.social, en el más reciente artículo de TON, con aportes de @vcallier.bsky.social, @claricecudi.bsky.social, y otros. #TONenEspañol 🧪

Covering Null Results: How to Turn “Nothing” into News - The Open Notebook Null results—those that contradict a study’s original hypothesis or fail to find a cause-and-effect link between variables—can be easy to dismiss as non-news but may lead to valuable stories that show...

Covering null results can help reporters contribute to a more accurate view of science and the world, writes @bwfund.bsky.social early-career fellow Lucila Pinto in TON’s latest, with insights from @vcallier.bsky.social, @ldattaro.bsky.social, @claricecudi.bsky.social and others. 🧪

Early-Career Fellowship Program - The Open Notebook Every year, The Open Notebook offers a paid, part-time fellowship program for early-career science journalists. This ten-month program offers fellows the opportunity to explore their career interests ...

Applications are OPEN through 10/31 for our early-career fellowship program supported by the @bwfund.bsky.social! Work with a mentor to plan, report, and write articles for The Open Notebook and become part of the TON team. 🧪

According to our friends @journalists.org, alums describe the program as “life-changing.” Don't miss your chance to apply for the accelerator, a great opportunity for professionals in digital journalism to level up their leadership skills and connect with a powerful network of peers.

SCIENCE TALK '26 • Association of Science Communicators Join us for SCIENCE TALK's 10th anniversary in Portland, OR! Learn more about SCIENCE TALK, the premier conference for science communicators.

🧪 @sciencetalkorg.bsky.social is inviting submissions for #SciTalk26. The conference theme is Wayfinding: A Decade of Dialogue, highlighting the importance of finding a way forward for science and finding paths to connect communities with science. Learn more and submit below by Oct. 7. 👇