This document provides an overview of science journalism and discusses why it is an essential service, even for those not trained as scientists. It introduces David Kroll and his background in science communication. It also highlights examples from 1976 issues of Ebony, Jet, and Rolling Stone magazines that included science stories, and emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in science journalism.
1. Science Journalism 101
NABJ 2013
David J Kroll, PhD
Director of Strategic Positioning
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Adjunct Associate Professor of English
North Carolina State University
djkroll@ncsu.edu @davidkroll @naturalsciences
8. But what if I’m not a scientist?
You should still cover science
and technology in your
publications and outlets
Essential service to Black
community and more broadly
12. “The prominence of the Southern
Hemisphere has prompted calls to
the museum questioning the
accuracy of the globe’s scale.
However, it’s not the scale that is
incorrect, but our conditioning.
Maps and globes shape our
perspectives of the planet, and in
turn our sense of place on it.”
-- Lisa Sorg, Indy Week, 11 April 2012
http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/the-daily-planets-geography-
lesson-at-the-nc-museum-of-natural-sciences/Content?oid=3004747
13. Ebony – June 1976
• Henrietta Lacks story with family
• Followed Michael Rogers, Rolling Stone
• Remainder of issue full of science and
health stories
14.
15. Ebony, June 1976 - Featured work of legendary plant medicinal chemist,
Dr. Norman Farnsworth, University of Illinois at Chicago
23. The magazine screenshots featured
in this presentation came from links
provided by the University of
Maryland Libraries resource on The
Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks:
http://lib.guides.umd.edu/HeLa
Images shown under “fair use” provisions.
