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Crash Courses

Beyond the basics of science reporting

This brand-new, intermediate-level webinar will help you sort through and weigh conflicting evidence to make sure you’re accurately representing the state of the science on any given topic.

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What are Crash Courses?

Science reporting requires walking a line between emphasizing the importance of findings or overselling those findings, contributing to misplaced hope or fanning exaggerated fears. This free, 75-minute course—designed for reporters covering science either occasionally or full-time—teaches basic principles about recognizing science worth reporting on and doing it justice in your coverage.

Freelance science reporter Elena Renken and Ph.D. neuroscientist Dr. Tori Espensen together will take you through the basics of crafting accurate, responsible stories about science. Among the topics included:

  • How to find science stories worth covering;
  • Red flags in scientific studies and clarifying questions to ask experts;
  • Representing scientific controversy accurately; and
  • Conveying the uncertain and ever-changing nature of science.

Sixty minutes of interactive teaching are followed by a 15-min open Q&A.

More Beyond the Basics of Science Reporting sessions will be scheduled in the future. Journalists, you can sign up here to be alerted when registration opens for future sessions and to join SciLine’s network of journalists.

Couldn’t make the last session? We’ll be scheduling more dates of this course in the future!

Tori Espensen

Training director
she/her

Tori leads SciLine’s training programs, which help both scientists and journalists learn to work better together to bring accurate, engaging scientific evidence to general audiences through news stories. Her role includes developing curricula, facilitating workshops and webinars, and finding creative ways to make teaching science and communication skills dynamic and interactive. Tori’s Ph.D. in biological psychopathology and postdoctoral fellowship in psychiatry, both from the University of Minnesota, allow her to connect with the scientists she trains and share her deep understanding of scientific skills and concepts with journalists.

Elena Renken

Journalism projects editor
she/her

Elena is a writer and editor focused on science. She reports and edits articles on all kinds of news and the scientific evidence surrounding it to shape SciLine’s editorial coverage. She launched and writes SciLine’s weekly newsletter “Matter of Fact,” which offers story ideas and evidence for current reporting. She also speaks at events for journalists, moderates media briefings, and contributes to SciLine’s multimedia strategy. Elena earned a degree in science, technology, and society at Brown University, and her work has been published by NPR, Quanta Magazine, Nautilus, and PBS “NOVA”, among other national and local outlets.

More Beyond the basics of science reporting sessions will be scheduled in the future. Journalists, you can sign up here to be alerted when the next training is scheduled and to join SciLine’s network of journalists.

Past sessions were held on the following dates:

  • April 2, 2025
  • February 18, 2025