A Science Blog - Pitching Guide
Please email pitches to blog@sciencetalk.org.
Content Areas: We’re happy to look at any science communication-related pitch, but we’re particularly interested in pitches about life in the science communication community, research about science communication, and tools and advice for science communicators. Pitches about scientific topics, personal experiences in science, or interesting research unrelated to science communication - while they may be awesome - aren’t a good fit for this blog. We recommend pitching to NPRscicommers, Massive Science, or other science media outlets.
Before pitching, please check our blog and other websites to make sure your pitch has original features. It’s fine to write about a topic that’s been covered previously, but your pitch should clearly highlight what will be new and original about your piece.
Word Count: Pitches should be less than 500 words.
Format: Please send a pitch that describes your idea or topic, how it relates to science communication, and what format (text, video, or graphic) you expect your final piece to be. The pitch should include sources if relevant. Do NOT send us a complete piece.
Timeline: Whether we accept your piece or not, our goal is to reply to you within one week. Please be patient as we are a completely volunteer organization. If it has been longer than a week, feel free to follow up and we’ll respond as promptly as we can. If accepted, we will work with you to schedule a submission deadline.
Editing Process: Please submit your draft as a Google Doc. We will provide some feedback, including suggested edits, questions a reader might have, and clarification questions, when we accept a pitch. All accepted material will be copy-edited and edited to fit our style guidelines if needed. If major edits are needed, we will work one-on-one with the author to provide suggestions and recommendations before acceptance. As a volunteer run organization we are unable to provide intensive editing. If you’re wanting to write a piece and want extensive feedback during the process, we again recommend Massive science and NPRScicommers as resources.
Images: Please provide at least 1-2 images or media that relate to your post. These images can be Creative Commons free images, a photo of you working, an image you’re allowed to use from your published works or one in which you received permission from the author to use, an embedded video, etc.
Examples of websites with free, reusable images:
Cross Posting: Posts may be cross posted to additional partner blogs with the author’s permission. Posts originally posted on personal blogs will be accepted for publication; however, posts that appear anywhere else will be taken on a case-by-case basis.
Content Areas: We’re happy to look at any science communication-related pitch, but we’re particularly interested in pitches about life in the science communication community, research about science communication, and tools and advice for science communicators. Pitches about scientific topics, personal experiences in science, or interesting research unrelated to science communication - while they may be awesome - aren’t a good fit for this blog. We recommend pitching to NPRscicommers, Massive Science, or other science media outlets.
Before pitching, please check our blog and other websites to make sure your pitch has original features. It’s fine to write about a topic that’s been covered previously, but your pitch should clearly highlight what will be new and original about your piece.
Word Count: Pitches should be less than 500 words.
Format: Please send a pitch that describes your idea or topic, how it relates to science communication, and what format (text, video, or graphic) you expect your final piece to be. The pitch should include sources if relevant. Do NOT send us a complete piece.
Timeline: Whether we accept your piece or not, our goal is to reply to you within one week. Please be patient as we are a completely volunteer organization. If it has been longer than a week, feel free to follow up and we’ll respond as promptly as we can. If accepted, we will work with you to schedule a submission deadline.
Editing Process: Please submit your draft as a Google Doc. We will provide some feedback, including suggested edits, questions a reader might have, and clarification questions, when we accept a pitch. All accepted material will be copy-edited and edited to fit our style guidelines if needed. If major edits are needed, we will work one-on-one with the author to provide suggestions and recommendations before acceptance. As a volunteer run organization we are unable to provide intensive editing. If you’re wanting to write a piece and want extensive feedback during the process, we again recommend Massive science and NPRScicommers as resources.
Images: Please provide at least 1-2 images or media that relate to your post. These images can be Creative Commons free images, a photo of you working, an image you’re allowed to use from your published works or one in which you received permission from the author to use, an embedded video, etc.
Examples of websites with free, reusable images:
Cross Posting: Posts may be cross posted to additional partner blogs with the author’s permission. Posts originally posted on personal blogs will be accepted for publication; however, posts that appear anywhere else will be taken on a case-by-case basis.
