Insider Tips: Getting Started in Health and Science Writing 

  Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Have you always wanted to write about health and science topics?
Learn to take advantage of the growing demand in this
market with insider tips and tools from three of
Canada’s top-ranked health and science writers.

Panelists

Carolyn Abraham is an award-winning journalist and author covering the social impact of advances in science. The medical reporter for The Globe and Mail for 14 years, Carolyn has written on the politics of research, reproductive technologies, mental illness, stem cells and genetics in particular. She is a four-time winner of the Canadian Science Writers Association award for medical reporting, and twice earned National Newspaper Awards. Her book, Possessing Genius: The Bizarre Odyssey of Einstein’s Brain, published in seven countries, was a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for non-fiction. Carolyn is currently working on her next book, The Juggler’s Children, a memoir that explores the use of DNA tests to solve her own family mysteries.

Mark Witten has written health and science articles for Toronto Life, The Walrus, Reader’s Digest, Today’s Parent, More, Homemakers, Chatelaine, Current Science, Canadian Living and Explore. He’s won many awards for writing on topics ranging from heart transplants to personalized medicine, including a recent Canadian Institutes of Health Research award for in-depth health journalism.  As an English literature major and former business writer, he found that ignorance about health and science made him try harder. 

Stephen Strauss is President of the Canadian Science Writers' Association and has written about science for more than 30 years. He has written for about 25 years with The Globe and Mail, and since 2005, with a number of different outlets including CBC.ca, EnRoute, New Scientist, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Medicine, The Canadian Medical Association Journal. As well, he has written and ghostwritten a number of books and book chapters on the topic. He has won numbers of awards, including two recent Canadian Institutes of Health Research grants. He personally believes this is the Golden Age for anyone wanting science information, but the Tin Age for journalists who seek to be adequately paid for their efforts satisfying that want.

Moderator

Jane Langille is a Toronto-area freelance writer who writes about health, wellness and medical innovations for print and online publications, as well as healthcare companies. She is a contributing author for GE Healthy Outlook and her work has been published in Diabetes Dialogue, More, Health Monitor, Besthealthmag.ca and Heartandstroke.ca. Before she took a deep dive into health writing, Jane’s work was published in The Globe and Mail, More and Cottage Life. Jane serves as VP Communications for PWAC, Toronto Chapter.

Registration: 6:30 p.m. Panel Discussion/Q&A: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
FREE for PWAC members and students (*advance online registration)
$20 for onsite registration
$10 for members of associate writers’ groups (*advance online registration)
$15 for non-member (*advance online registration)
(*online registration available up to midnight before event)

Post seminar Cheers with Peers networking at The Bishop and the Belcher
175 Bloor Street East , Toronto
(Pay for your own cheers)