McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, 533 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles

Welcome and introductions.

• Vikki Porter, Director, Knight Digital Media Center, USC Annenberg School for Communication
• K.C. Cole, Visiting Professor/Science Journalism, USC Annenberg School of Journalism
• Michael Parks, Director, USC Annenberg School of Journalism

Conference plans

• Vikki Porter

Keynote address - “When Science and Policy Converge”

• Donald Kennedy, editor-in-chief, Science Magazine, and president emeritus, Stanford University

(And why do journalists have such a hard time getting editors and gatekeepers to understand it?)

What constitutes a discovery?  What does “wrong” mean - or “true”?  Dealing with uncertainty.

Opening discussants:
• Michael Lemonick, freelance journalist, writer “Eye on Science” blog, Time.com
• Alexandra Witze, Senior News and Features Editor, Nature

• Donald Kennedy, editor-in-chief, Science Magazine, and president emeritus, Stanford University

If 40 million Americans get their science information online, what are the implications for science journalists and news organizations focused on science?  When science stories run on page one of newspapers, or get play on TV or radio, there is at least a chance that a non-science reader will be intrigued (not to mentioned informed).  The transition to online has meant that readers (listeners, etc.) must go out and search for science.  How do we get out of the box and bring back serendipity?

• John B. Horrigan, associate research director, Pew Internet & American Life Project
• Rob Semper, executive associate director, San Francisco Exploratorium

The problem of “balance” in science journalism.  Covering controversies.

Opening discussants:
• Cristine Russell, President, Council for the Advancement of Science Writing
• Tom Siegfried, freelance science journalist and member, Board of Directors, Council for the Advancement of Science Writing
• Joe Palca, Science Correspondent, National Public Radio

More and more science “news” is coming at us pre-filtered, selected by people who really don’t understand science.  This situation inevitably results in more dumbed-down (and dumb) science journalism. The role of gatekeepers.

Opening discussants:
  Charles Petit, MIT Knight Science Journalism Tracker
  Dan Vergano, science writer, USA Today

• Adam Frank, professor of astrophysics, University of Rochester

Given the discussions of the previous day, we overlay how science journalists can and should approach this complex discipline online.  Story forms, use of audio, video, graphics, USG content/interaction.

Opening discussants:
• Daniel Grossman, AAAS award-winning journalist
• Vikki Valentine, Science Web Producer, National Public Radio
• Alan Boyle, Science Editor, MSNBC.com
• Sarah Graham, Science Web Producer, nytimes.com

• Alfred Hermida, assistant professor, School of Journalism, University of British Columbia

Opening discussants:
• Rebecca Perry, professional graphic artist and visual journalist
• Larry Gonick, science cartoonist, Larry Gonick Studio
• Rosalind Reid, Editor, American Scientist magazine

Teams identify complex, controversial issues and brainstorm how to best cover them online.  Teams are encouraged to use online tools or other materials to demonstrate how the topics could be presented in compelling and innovative forms.

Teams present their ideas for innovative online coverage of controversial or complex topics.

Can we define best practices?  How do we keep judgment and expertise in science journalism as it moves to cyberspace?  Are there protocols that we can provide as guidelines for other journalists?

What can we take home from the last two days?  How can it be realistically applied?  Outlook for the future.  Next steps.