BIOTECH UNIVERSITY
The Dynamics of Covering Biotechnology
Congratulations
You have already won!
What's the catch?
Developing an expertise.
But I don’t like science!
A Literature Review Shows
 You are not alone.
 Public has little baseline knowledge of
biotechnology.
 Many stories are explanatory.
 “Get to know GMOs.”
 And win a trip to China
Two elements for today
 1. The dynamics of covering
biotechnology.
 2. How to create the best possible
contest entry.
Part 1. The Second Injury Fund
 Comparing covering biotechnology with the
reporting on another complicated story subject.
 An obscure Missouri Workers’ Compensation
Program.
 Millions of dollars were involved, and lawyers
weren’t talking.
 A big story with a lot of $$$.
Scan 3.pdf
Comparing coverage of the Second
Injury Fund and Biotechnology
 Disassemble big complicated subjects. Break them
down into understandable pieces.
 Find an example to show how biotechnology is
being used and focus on that one element to provide
the bigger picture.
 Morris Kessler’s injury claims or Forriss Elliott’s
legal bills were angles to get us into the bigger story.
More comparisons of Second Injury
Fund and Biotechnology Coverage
 A biotechnology example can help pique reader
interest.
 For example a story can be told around GMO
labeling on food packages.
 Why is the label there? How does the consumer
react to it?
 Questions like these can help launch your story.
More comparisons of Second Injury
Fund and Biotechnology Coverage
 Visuals help tell complicated stories. We used
graphics to explain how the Second Injury Fund
worked. Graphics, charts, diagrams can help explain
the complexity of GMOs.
 A word of caution here: Make sure there’s a good
reason for the graphic and that your not introducing
art for art’s sake.
More comparisons of Second Injury
Fund and Biotechnology Coverage
 Both the Second Injury Fund stories and
biotechnology coverage demonstrate the value of
good, reliable, authentic news sources to help you
tell your story. The more the better.
 One source can lead to another. There are many
sides to a story (far more than two sides) and the
more sources you have the greater likelihood that
you’ve captured the essence of your subject.
More comparisons of Second Injury
Fund and Biotechnology Coverage
 Employ the discipline of verification. Reporters are
like scientists—be open to the possibility that your
assumptions could be wrong. In journalism as in
science the truth of a situation sometimes differs
from what’s expected.
 Open mindedness is an essential quality. Remember
a good story can be told even if your findings differ
from your original hypothesis.
A final comparison between Second
Injury Fund & Biotechnology Coverage
 Biotechnology reporting, just like the Second Injury
Fund, does not lend itself to Twitter feeds.
 The stories explaining both have to be
comprehensive and clear and well researched.
 Science writing requires a careful attention to detail.
Valuable Internet Sources
 SPJ’s Journalist’s Toolbox for Science writing:
http://www.journaliststoolbox.org/archive/2012/
12/science-resources-1.html
 The Society of Environmental Journalists:
http://www.sej.org
Part 2: Tips for creating a good
contest entry.
 Become grounded in a general way about
biotechnology through a search of the literature.
 “Seeds of Doubt” by Michael Specter in the Aug. 25,
2014 New Yorker Magazine.
 http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/GMOexperiments-receive-questionable-oversight5740478.php
More Contest Tips
 Types of stories: environmental, business, scientific,
political, agricultural, medical, pharmaceutical.
 Judging criteria: relevance, accuracy, objectivity,
approach, innovation, technical merit, journalistic
integrity, style, professionalism, of interest.
 Shoot for making your entry professional enough to
be published by the New York Times or broadcast
by CBS News.
More Contest Tips
 Fair, interesting and honest.
 Advance knowledge of what biotechnology is and
how it is being used.
 An effective presentation:
 Find an interesting angle.
 Do not be captured by your tools.
 Print? Broadcast? Multi-media? Make sure your
platform is appropriate for your story.
 Is your story long enough?
More Contest Tips
 Gather enough sources and points of view to make
your reports thought-provoking and
comprehensive. The more sources you have the
more balanced your story will be.
 A sloppy presentation detracts from your message.
Thus:
 Make sure your production values are perfect.
 Your written report is flawlessly edited.
 Grammar, spellings, identification and AP style.
Past winners & finalists by category
Finalist, Investigative Reporting
1993 Terry Ganey, Michael D. Sorkin and Louis J. Rose St.
Louis Post-Dispatch
For investigations of corruption by a Missouri attorney general
and a St. Louis chief prosecutor.
Conclusion
 The biotech experience may help to lead you to
important assignments later.
 Provides opportunity for career growth and could
open the door to your first job.
 Demonstrates versatility.
 Who knows maybe you can win a trip!
QUESTIONS