In a Field Guide for Science Writers, the official guide of the National Association of Science Writers, budding journalists and veteran reporters have a superb roadmap to this exciting area of journalism. Here some three dozen of the best-known science writers in America share their hard-earned knowledge on how they do their job. Boyce Rensberger describes how he covers stories for the Washington Post; two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and New York Times reporter John Noble Wilford outlines the pitfalls and rewards of writing full-length books on scientific topics; NPR's Ira Flatow tells how radio pieces combine ambient sounds, music, voices, and facts to create a mental picture and evoke the feeling of "being there"; and Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Laurie Garrett, author of the bestselling The Coming Plague, discusses how to cover, and survive, a deadly epidemic. Each article brims with detailed, nuts-and-bolts information.

Part 1: LEARNING THE CRAFT

Introduction, Mary Knudson
1. Finding Story Ideas and Sources, Philip M. Yam
2. Reporting from Science Journals, Tom Siegfried
3. Understanding and Using Statistics, Lewis Cope
4. Writing Well About Science: Techniques From Teachers of Science Writing
5. Taking Your Story to the Next Level, Nancy Shute
6. Finding a Voice and a Style, David Everett

Part 2: CHOOSING YOUR MARKET

Introduction, Carey Goldberg
7. Small Newspapers, Ron Seely
8. Large Newspapers, Robert Lee Hotz
9. Popular Magazines, Janice Hopkins Tanne
10. Trade and Science Journals, Colin Norman
11. Broadcast Science Journalism, Joe Palca
12. Freelance Writing, Kathryn Brown
13. Science Books, Carl Zimmer
14. Popular Audiences on the Web, Alan Boyle
15. Science Audiences on the Web, Tabitha M. Powledge
16. Science Editing, Mariette DiChristina

Part 3: VARYING YOUR WRITING STYLE

Introduction, Robin Marantz Henig
17. Deadline Writing, Gareth Cook
18. Investigative Reporting, Antonio Regalado
19. Gee Whiz Science Writing, Robert Kunzig
20. Explanatory Writing, George Johnson
21. Narrative Writing, James Shreeve
22. The Science Essay, Robert Kanigel

Part 4: COVERING STORIES IN THE LIFE SCIENCES

Introduction, Deborah Blum
23. Medicine, Shannon Brownlee
24. Infectious Diseases, Marilyn Chase
25. Nutrition, Sally Squires
26. Mental Health, Paul Raeburn
27. The Biology of Behavior, Kevin Begos
28. Human Genetics, Antonio Regalado
29. Human Cloning and Stem Cells, Stephen S. Hall

Part 5: COVERING STORIES IN THE PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Introduction, Deborah Blum
30. Technology and Engineering, Kenneth Chang
31. Space Science, Michael D. Lemonick
32. The Environment, Andrew C. Revkin
33. Nature, McKay Jenkins
34 Earth Sciences, Glennda Chui
35. Climate, Usha Lee McFarling
36. Risk Reporting, Cristine Russell

TAKING A DIFFERENT PATH
JOURNALISTS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES, The Editors
Part 6: COMMUNICATING SCIENCE FROM INSTITUTIONS

Introduction, John D. Toon
37. Universities, Earle Holland
38. Institutional Communications During Crisis, Joann Ellison Rodgers
39. Government Agencies, Colleen Henrichsen
40. Nonprofits, Frank Blanchard
41. Museums, Mary Miller
42. Corporate Public Relations, Marion E. Glick