The World Conference of Science Journalists 2023 came to the city of the eternal Spring: Medellín, Colombia 🌸

At the entrance of the event we were welcomed by a traditional Silletero (porter) with this customary floral arrangement from Medellín

Last week, I was swept off my feet by the captivating World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ) held in Medellín, Colombia. This is the first time in a decade that the conference has returned to the Global South and in twenty years to Latin America.

The WCSJ usually takes place every two years and it’s the largest international event for science journalists to gather, network, and discuss the main challenges they are facing at the moment. This year’s topics revolved around climate change, communicating science through the lens of bio and cultural diversity, and the fight against anti-science sentiments.

Here is a summary of the different seminars, workshops, and lectures.

Monday

On Monday I attended the “Reaching Across Borders: Strengthening Science Journalism in Latin America” workshop in Spanish organized by InquireFirst in collaboration with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Department of Science Education.

The morning started with Lynne Walker and Iván Carrillo igniting a compelling conversation on revolutionizing science journalism in Latin America. They emphasized the need for stronger science journalism in Latin America and highlighted the potential for high-impact results when journalists from different countries collaborate and work together. They also discussed the importance of establishing a network of nations for sharing knowledge and expertise in the field of science journalism.

Then Debbie Ponchner unveiled her secret recipe for crafting the ultimate pitch that will have editors clamoring for your story. She dished out tips on selecting the ideal publication, captivating your story idea, and conducting preliminary research. She also discussed key questions to ask when crafting a pitch, such as novelty, relevance, and the unique angle of the story. Ponchner introduced the Open Notebook Pitch Database as a useful resource for journalists looking for inspiration and examples of successful pitches.