Science journalism and science writing are not the same.
Science writers mainly popularize scientific knowledge for businesses and organizations, and on the other hand, science journalists narrate stories on science and address narrative critically. In short, science writing explains complicated ideas that no one wants to keep as a secret, but science journalism is explaining things that all can understand, but some may want to keep it as secret.
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Even though the difference in audience is not that irrelevant, science writers mainly inform while science journalists always aim for entertaining and provoking. The two roles usually overlap.
Do you need formal training?
The most important qualification in the journalism sector is experiencing without which most journalists find it a complete waste of time. Several postgraduate courses provide both general and specialist journalist approaches. Many science communication courses allow students to explore every area of media before they decide which route to take. Through a science journalism course, one can build some necessary skills and confidence and open a large number of contacts.
How can you become a good science journalist?
There is no perfect formula or universal law to be a good science journalist. They can be either scientist who studies journalism or journalist who learns science. Everything can result in great science journalism. A most important tip is remaining open to learning all time.
Many science journalists are those scientists who cram storytelling to explain their research to the public. Not every science journalist possesses a science degree, but they must spend some time understanding science very deeply.
We require creative people who can easily connect journalism with science by coming out of the academic background and seeing the world with a clear lens for good science journalism.