Mico may also be thinking about other discussions of this perennial issue. If you really want to see sparks fly, ask for free words on the ABSW's own email list. Think of it is the equivalent of the storms that used to blow through when offers of unpaid internships appeared, before they were recognised for the evil that they are.
The problem with setting up your own website, rather than joining something that already exists, is that you can end up spending most of your "spare" time dealing with the website rather than working on the articles that you really want to write.
If something is already out there, make them an offer they can't refuse. Get together with fellow student enthusiasts and become this year's shakers and stirrers, before finals kick in!
As Mico suggests, there is already an organisation that offers a home for student writers, the ABSW. That too comes and goes as the activists get sucked into their studies, careers and globe-trotting fame and fortune. But it has the advantage of continuity in the shape of people who have "been there, done that". Then there is the ABSW's collective memory from old geezers. That memory may be narrower than this list's but it has the benefit of a focus on writing and journalism.
If you talk to the NSJ people, you might drop in the notion that you have already smoked out a smidgen of interest within the ABSW. Well, Mico and I are listening, and we can try to cajole/bully some of our colleagues into joining the fun. We might even chew it over if we bump into each other at this week's Wellcome Trust event.
Whatever you do, good look.
MK
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Courtney Williams
Sent: 2014-October-19 16:40
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Website compiling opportunities for new science communicators
Thank you to everyone who has sent suggestions! I am gradually adding
them to the site along with things I'm finding myself.
Mićo: I've been a member of this list since mid-2010 (though there was
a period last year where I left and rejoined) and cannot recall
anything like this being mentioned before outside of discussions that
don't seem to yield much. I may be mistaken though.
The NSJ project has not been updated in almost a year (a lifetime in
internet terms), they don't have brilliant social media presence (33
likes on Facebook, nothing on Twitter, a sizeable group on LinkedIn
but obviously not enough to keep the site going) and they are not
prominent in search engines. I'm not trying to do what they're doing,
so that point doesn't stand, but I will probably e-mail them and the
other websites featured so I can ensure I'm clear on their aims,
payment structures, etc. I also want to find out what went wrong for
NSJ because it's obviously a good idea. I have actually put them on
the NTSC site, though with a disclaimer.
I've got at least two years left of my undergraduate degree, so won't
be getting a full-time job any time soon! Even if I did I hope I'd
still care about those in my current position. After all, I spend my
free time going into schools and talking to students who are like I
was several years ago.
The benefit of starting this on my own is that I can get a site
working before I pitch it to whatever association. It isn't just
science writing; there are currently seven sections and one being
worked on. All it'll take if a bigger organisation does want to host
the site is exporting an XML file from Wordpress and importing into
the new site. Being independent means no one organisation will receive
unfair precedence; I do want it to be international as well, so the
ABSW probably isn't the best fit (though if you're offering space on
the website I wouldn't necessarily say no). I also wanted to start as
soon as possible just because I have a tendency to be so cautious
that, by the time I'm ready to do something, someone else already has
or the idea is no longer relevant!
I literally started this website last night, which is why there's not
much there yet. If there is a point where I can no longer work on it
alone I'll get help or even pass it on. I am all about working with
organisations that are already out there and not just starting
projects for the sake of having "Founder of XYZ" on your LinkedIn
page, but there doesn't seem to be anything close to a single
directory for new sci-commers. There are lots of smaller lists
scattered around the internet so I will be using those (making sure I
don't just steal anyone's work, of course).
If you have any more concerns, please let me know! I am always happy
to hear suggestions.
-- Courtney
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