Writer / Fellow wanted (science) | $1 per word

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE

Deadline: 29 June 2022

About the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships Program

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) S&T Policy Fellowships (STPF) program provides opportunities to outstanding scientists and engineers from a broad range of disciplines, backgrounds, and career stages to learn first-hand about policymaking in the federal government while contributing their knowledge and analytical skills. The experience builds the capacity of scientists and engineers to effectively inform individuals and organizations that influence and determine public policies, regulations, and funding decisions. The aim is to maintain and expand a corps of policy-savvy STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) leaders working across sectors to serve the nation and citizens around the world.

STPF FELLOWSHIP FOCUS NEWSLETTER

STPF publishes a bi-monthly newsletter and distributes it to all contacts: about 20,000 people interested in topics at the intersection of science and policy. The newsletter features stories (text and images) about STPF fellows and alumni, as well as the program itself.

THE PUBLICATION’S AIM IS TO:

• Facilitate understanding of the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF) program mission/operations/offerings and encourage applications.
• Highlight the ways that fellows and alumni contribute to science policy and share noteworthy activities and accomplishments of fellows. Educate readers about issues at the intersection of science and policy while highlighting specific fellows, agencies, and/or initiatives.
• Communicate the broad range of opportunities across fellowship assignments and host offices.
• Demonstrate the diversity of fellows’ disciplines, experience, career stages, cultural and sectoral backgrounds, abilities, geographic representation, as well as the partner sponsoring societies.
• Distribute STPF program news.
• Promote career paths for scientists and engineers beyond academia.
• Foster loyalty and continuing engagement of alumni, host offices, and sponsors.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The STPF program is funded by federal grants, so independent contractors must meet the eligibility requirements outlined below, according to STPF federal grant guidelines:

• STPF vendors and contractors cannot be currently employed by the U.S. federal government in any capacity.
• STPF vendors must be U.S.-based entities. Contractors must be American citizens and must reside within the United States.
• STPF vendors and contractors delivering in-person programming must abide by any existing federal, local, or AAAS health and safety requirements, such as vaccine mandates and/or required masking indoors.
• STPF vendors and contractors are encouraged to register with the System for Award Management (SAM) Database at SAM.gov if they are not already. Learn more at: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

SCOPE OF WORK

To help fulfill the content needs of the newsletter, a freelancer writer is contracted to research and write original stories under the direction of the communications director.

Story Requirements

• Articles will be written for an educated lay audience, following AP style, and will be thoroughly edited for grammar and accuracy before submission.
• Writer will be the sole author of the submitted text (Work), which will be original and free of plagiarism. Work will not infringe upon any copyright, right of privacy, proprietary right, right of publicity or any other right of a third party.
• Writer agrees that STPF has the right to edit the Work. The writer will submit up to two rounds of revisions if requested.
• Writer will cooperate with STPF if any complaints, claims, or litigation should arise regarding the Work.

Assignment and Submission Process

• Writer will become familiar with STPF and its operations by reading the STPF website and supplied materials, and by conducting additional research as necessary.
• Editor will provide story angles and/or recommended questions, along with contact information for the subject(s).
• Writer will conduct internet research to glean additional information about the fellow (e.g.,media coverage), and interview individuals in person, or by phone and/or email (via the method that works for the subject).
• Writer will produce feature articles no more than 1,000 words in length, written to inspire and capture the reader’s imagination by employing storytelling techniques, images, video, quotes, and links. The tone will be concise and lively, providing background on the fellow as an individual as well as details on his/her fellowship assignment and outputs.
• Writer will collaborate with the subject(s) to ensure accuracy. Writer agrees to use reasonable care to ensure that all facts and statements in the Work are true. The final draft will be reviewed by the subject(s) and any challenges to accuracy or presentation will be resolved before submission. While subjects may request edits to quotes attributed to them, they may review the draft only to ensure accuracy, and not for style or grammar.
• Each submission will include at least two compelling, high-resolution images(photo, video, infographic, or illustration) that has been vetted to ensure all rights for usage.
• Each article will include a suggested headline and image captions.
• Each aricle will be submitted to the Editor in a Word document via email or DropBox by the agreed upon deadline. Submissions will include all visuals as attachments in JPEG or TIF format (or other appropriate format for video).
• Submitted text will be reviewed by the Editor, the Senior Project Director for Outreach, Engagement & Communication Systems, and the STPF Director.

TIMEFRAME

Fellowship Focus is distributed six times per year, in January, March, May, July, September, and November. The Editor will assign one or two stories per issue with 2-4 weeks lead time.

BUDGET

Maximum: $7,000 based on a rate of $1.00/word. Stories will not exceed 1,000 words each. The writer will write five to seven stories per year.

APPLICATION ELEMENTS

• Resume.
• Cover letter that outlines how the selection criteria below are met.
• Links to three clips (each at least 400 words in length).

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least five years of experience working as a writer for professional or general audience publications and with writing high quality articles based on interviews and other research.
• Solid body of work that demonstrates an ability to translate scientific information into inspirational stories written in plain language.
• Experience with brainstorming and finding compelling images to accompany stories.
• Experience with interviewing subjects to uncover a narrative tale.
• Strong communications skills, both oral and written.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and time management skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines, sometimes with short notice.

SUBMISSIONS

By June 29, 2022, email a resume, cover letter, and links to three clips(at least 400 words each) to:

Subject line: “Freelance writer search”

AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships

fellowships@aaas.org

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Questions / applications: fellowships@aaas.org

Website: http://www.stpf-aaas.org/

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