Fellowship Application
“With Conviction: Reporting on Science in the Courtroom”
Introduction
The National Association of Science Writers has generously provided funding
for the workshop, “With Conviction: Reporting on Science in the Courtroom,”
which will be held on September 26, 2015 at the James E. Roger’s College of
Law on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, Arizona.
NASW’s sponsorship includes funding for three $750 fellowships to cover
transportation and lodging costs for three journalism or science writing
students wishing to attend the workshop.
Description of workshop:
In recent years a number of criminal convictions that relied heavily on
questionable scientific evidence have been reversed. In one well-publicized
death penalty case where the defendant was executed, it appears that arson
evidence crucial to the conviction was based on faulty science. Science has
been misused in a variety of judicial contexts. In 2011 ProPublica, NPR and
PBS Frontline teamed up to investigate the abuse and overuse of the child
abuse syndrome called “shaken baby syndrome.” Many other media outlets,
including the Houston Chronicle, the Texas Tribune and the New York Times,
have reported on the fallout in the criminal justice system that results when
the judicial system uses junk science to obtain convictions.
Science writers are often observers and reporters at the front lines of these
legal battles, so it is crucial that they understand how scientific evidence is
evaluated, admitted and considered in the judicial process. This workshop will
bring together legal experts, forensic scientists, science writers, science
journalism students and others to explore a topic of tremendous importance.
The workshop will include panel discussions by experts in law, forensic science
and journalism; breakout sessions aimed at helping science writers understand
the role of science in the judicial process; and a moot court demonstration of
the process for admitting scientific evidence in a criminal proceeding.
Application
Please email the application below and the required writing sample as a PDF
attachment to swanberg@email.arizona.edu as soon as possible. We will notify
winners by August 15, 2015.
Name:
Mailing address:
Email:
Cell phone number:
School:
Major:
Minor (if any):
Anticipated graduation date:
Faculty reference
Please provide the name and contact information for a professor who is
willing to discuss your qualifications, if needed.
Describe any journalism or science writing experience you have outside of the
classroom (school newspaper, internships, etc.)
Describe any of your classes or extracurricular activities that reflect an interest
in science or communicating science.
Please write an original statement of intent, no longer than 250 words,
describing why you would value the opportunity to attend “With Conviction:
Reporting on Science in the Courtroom” as a fellow funded by NASW, and
how the program would enhance your developing career goals.
Provide one sample of your science writing, up to 750 words long. You may
include a previously published clip as a URL or PDF file (from a school
newspaper, for example). However, we will also accept an original,
unpublished entry sent as an attachment. Here are two examples of
acceptable original, unpublished entries.
1) A profile of a researcher at your school. It should describe the person's
research goals and methods, as well as why the scientist finds the work
important or fascinating. While the profile can include the researcher's
background, a premium should be placed on clearly and accurately describing
the science he or she is conducting. The style should be journalistic; imagine
trying to place this story in the school newspaper or alumni magazine. (Please
provide the researcher's contact information as well.)
OR
2) A news account of a scientific lecture or presentation given by a university
researcher or a visiting scientist. This is not intended to be a coverage of a
class lecture; the talk covered should be one given to a wider audience,
whether the full university or a specific department, and the story should
place the researcher's latest work in context. This story may require a posttalk interview with the researcher. (Please provide time and date of the talk
and the researcher's contact information as well.)
This project was funded in full/in part by a grant from the National Association of
Science Writers. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service
does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement of or recommendation by
the National Association of Science Writers, and any views and opinions expressed
herein do not necessarily reflect those of the National Association of Science
Writers.