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Profile of a Science Journo: MARK HORSTMAN How did you get into science journalism? By a long and winding path that led to a mid-life career change. After a zoology degree at James Cook University last century, I worked with Aboriginal and conservation groups on land management in northern Australia. But to get the chance to tell science yarns took a stroke of luck - an on-the-job training cadetship for science journalism offered by the ABC in 2002. What are the main obstacles you face? Obstacle may be too strong a word, but there is the "you-should-have-been-here-last-week" factor. Scientists busy doing their research, perhaps uncertain of what the results will be, are exactly what a good science TV story needs to film. Just getting the press release when the findings are published may sometimes be too late!
The folly of failing to value indigenous knowledge and the benefits of working in a 'both-ways' approach. There are many unsung scientific minds and methods in the bush and the suburbs, especially in the north. As important as good scientific research in the story it tells, and the policy it informs.!
My first assignment was to interview a young man who was a quadruple amputee from meningococcal septicaemia. Despite my anxiety about being sensitive in getting to the 'how did it make you feel' question, he turned the tables and ended up interviewing me about how I was responding to him. Do you have a particular philosophy when writing a story? Never be boring, make every word count; Reveal something new, leave a sense of wonderment. What is your advice for people trying to get into science journalism? My advice to 'keep trying' seems a bit trite as I was very fortunate scoring an entry to the ABC with fantastic mentors like Norman Swan, Amanda Armstrong, Robyn Williams, and Kirsten Garrett. But persistence does pay, and ABC Science online, radio and TV are always keen to get new ideas. What do you do now and then to get science out of your system? Impossible, really. Do I have to? If anyone reading this would like to submit a story idea how would you like them to contact you? If anyone reading this would like to submit a story idea how would you like them to contact you? Please email me at horstman.mark@abc.net.au, and check out the Catalyst website at www.abc.net.au/catalyst BACK to: Who's reporting science?
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WOOLLY MAMMOTH DNA DECODED SOIL CARBON ACID OCEANS WATER ISSUES SAFETY OF RECYCLED WATER GENETIC VARIATION LINKED TO TRANSSEXUALISM GENETIC VARIATION LINKED TO TRANSSEXUALISM CLIMATE: URGENT CHALLENGE 2008 PM's PRIZES FOR SCIENCE NEW CONCERNS OVER STEM CELL TOURISM NEW CONCERNS OVER STEM CELL TOURISM AUSTRALIAN FLU EXPERT, GRAEME LAVER, DIES IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES - EXPERTS RESPOND IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES - JANE GOODALL RESPONDS GARNAUT FINAL REPORT - EXPERTS REACT CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS STILL BOOMING - NEW DATA GOOD BACTERIA MAY PROTECT AGAINST DIABETES ECO-LABELS: A THREAT OR AN OPPORTUNITY? GIVING CHILDREN PARACETAMOL INCREASES ASTHMA RISK - LANCET GIVING CHILDREN PARACETAMOL INCREASES ASTHMA RISK - LANCET CHEMICALS IN PLASTICS LINKED TO CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND DIABETES
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