Yet fewer than 3 percent of journalists are trained to cover sciencehealthor the environment—and access to such training is both scarce and inequitable. The Open Notebook equips journalists with the skillstoolsand community support they need to produce evidence-based reporting that informs the public and empowers society. LEARN MORE >>

News and Announcements

Cover Reveal for Our New Book!

We’re thrilled to present the cover of our new bookout June 2026 from the University of Chicago Press!

The Best Science Stories and How They Work is a “best of” anthology and science writing masterclass rolled into one. We feature eleven deeply reportedartfully crafted stories from the likes of Scientific American, NatureThe Atlantic, and The New York Times Magazine alongside annotations by some of the most thoughtful and respected science journalists working today.

Twelve Tips to Tune Up Your Next Pitch

We’ve gathered top pitching advice from several editors into a handy tip sheet.

Merch! We Have Merch!

Hatsmugswater bottlestotest-shirtshoodies … and of coursenotebooks!

TON’s Writers’ Guidelines

The norms our writers followincluding how much to change quotes and what to share with sources.

Explore the Science Reporting Navigator

Learn how to incorporate scientific evidence into your reporting—no matter your beat.

TON Is 15! Help Us Celebrate!

We invite you to honor the pastelevate the presentand invest in the future of science journalism.

Latest Articles

Reported Features

Getting Yourself on the Scene: How to Fund and Plan Field-Reporting Trips

Field reporting brings color and context to a story that are often impossible to capture from afar. But getting yourself on the scene is no easy task. Intrepid reporters must battle competitive grant applicationsdwindling travel budgetsand various logistical barriers. With a solid foundation of research and a flexible reporting planit’s possible to shape a productive trip that captures essential detailsnets multiple storiesand even leads to new field-reporting opportunities.

Skyler Ware

News & Announcements

Announcing the Retraction Watch Research Accountability Reporting Fellowship

TON Editors

Reported Features

Why Now? Find a Hook to Make Your Pitch Timely

Lucila Pinto

News & Announcements

Congratulations and Welcome to TON’s 2026 Early-Career Fellows

TON Editors

Reported Features

When and How to Include Young People as Sources

William von Herff

Reported Features

Reporting on Flaws in Science in an Era of Mistrust

Cathleen O'Grady

Interviews

Starre Vartan Explores the Understudied Power of the Female Body in The Stronger Sex

Skyler Ware

Reported Features

How to Make Science and Health Funding Cuts Resonate with Readers

Lucila Pinto

Reported Features

IsotopesArchaeaand Cold-Water Physics—How to Sell Obscure Science Stories to Editors and Readers

William von Herff

SEE MORE >> REPORTED FEATURES | INTERVIEWS | STORYGRAMS | A DAY IN THE LIFE

The Craft of Science Writing

A secondexpanded edition of our book The Craft of Science Writing is now available from the University of Chicago Press!

Science writing has never been so critical to our worldand the demands on writers have never been greater. On any given daya writer might need to explain the details of AIanalyze developments in climate change researchor serve as a watchdog helping to ensure the integrity of the scientific enterprise. At the same timewriters must spin tales that hook and keep readersdespite the endless other demands on their attention. How does one do it? The Craft of Science Writing is the authoritative guide.

"The Open Notebook is an incredibly generous projecta gift to the science writer community.... Everyone involved—the TON creatorsthe interviewersthe writers who reveal their methods—is helping teach the rest of us a master class in science writing."

Laura Helmuth Science journalist and past president of the National Association of Science Writers

"Writing is a lonely art. The vast majority of the processfrom coming up with ideas to structuring a pieceis carried out in solitude. When you start outyou barely have a clue about what you’re doinglet alone what seasoned professionals get up to. Getting those pros to deconstruct their own methods for all to see is a massive boon to aspiring science writers."

Ed YongPulitzer Prize–winning journalist

"When I discovered The Open Notebook as a newbie engineer-turned-science-writer from Indiastruggling to understand the nuances of science writingI was blown over by the wealth of resources that were free! Reading each of those carefully curated articleswritten by writers from all over the worldhas helped me become a better science journalist. If there is a way to democratize science writingTON has shown us how to do itand I hope it will continue to guide many like me."

Spoorthy RamanScience journalist

"The Open Notebook offers not only a wealth of resourcesit provides community to science writers at every stage of their career. TON embodies generosity. By reading the site’s expert and timely articleswe can become better storytellers together."

Tiên NguyễnJournalist and filmmaker

"I recommend The Open Notebook to every writernot just science journalists. Their story dissections are amazingtheir pitch database is a goldmineand their profiles of other writers are the best way to score insider tips and/or feel less alone in the struggle."

Nicola Twilley Co-host of the Gastropod podcastauthor of Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our FoodOur Planetand Ourselvesand frequent contributor to The New Yorker

"The Open Notebook is the home of science journalism. It’s not surprising that all science writers are devoted to the priceless resources it offers. TON’s legacy will be defined by how it has shaped the careers of journalists from across the worldincluding me."

Abdullahi TsanniFreelance science journalist

"I don't recall how I stumbled upon The Open Notebookbut I immediately bookmarked it because I thought the content was practical and highly applicable in the real world. This site is one of the reasons why the idea of making a living through freelance writing seemed plausible. The Master Classespitch databaseinternational student communityand mentoring opportunities are invaluable to anyone willing to learn. This is one of those sites that should not be taken for granted."

Gowtham SKFreelance science writer

"The Open Notebook is the most essential resource for aspiring or growing science journalists."

Carolyn WilkeFreelance science journalist

"I consider myself lucky that The Open Notebook launched right as I started to pursue a career in science writing. Its pitch databaseStorygramsinterviews and in-depth articles on the craft of science writing proved invaluable as I tried to break into the fieldand I continue to rely on these resources for help and encouragement. Whenever anyone asks me for advice on science writingI recommend they first check out The Open Notebook."

Sandeep RavindranFreelance science journalist

"What TON offers is incomparable to anything else you can find online. These amazing people are committed to trainingmentoringand guiding anyone who wants to pursue a career in journalism. And not just with an open mindbut with the goal of giving those who are underrepresented an unprecedented opportunity."

Hasmik KirakosyanFreelance science journalist

"For mewhat really stands out about TON is its unwavering belief that everyone can be a better science writerand a firm moral stance that “everyone” truly means everybody. In these turbulent times when it seems America couldn’t be further from evidence-based discourseThe Open Notebook is a city upon a hillshowing the world what science could achieve if we came together as a community: bringing claritywonderand nuance to a world that sorely needs it."

Alex IpScience journalist and founder of The Xylom

Where to Get Started at The Open Notebook

We’ve published more than 600 articles on the craft of science journalismand we also offer courses and other training opportunitiesSpanish translationsDEI resourcesa free global database of science writersa large database of successful pitch letterstip sheetsinteractive toolsand more. Here are some starting points for digging in.

Learning Opportunities

SCIENCE JOURNALISM

Master Classes

Sharpen your skills with our free online coursesdelivered to your inbox starting as soon as you sign up.

Mentoring

Programs

Learn about our mentoring programs for early-career science journalistslocal journalistsjournalists from underrepresented communitiesand international students.

TRAININGSWorkshops

& Consultations

Host a customized trainingwebinaror consultation for your team or organization.

DiversityEquityand Inclusion Resources

We’ve published dozens of articles and resource guides that center diversityequityand inclusion (DEI) in science journalism. Browse this page to find articles on topics such as covering Indigenous communitiesreporting and writing with trans-inclusion in mindnavigating bias in newsroomsfinding diverse sourcestracking source diversityfreelancing on a student visaand muchmuch more.

The Open Notebook‘s commitment to diversityequityand inclusion is core to our missionand that will never change. We continue to stand by the promise we have made to our community. READ MORE >>

Check Out the Science Writers Database!

Our freepublic database of journalistswriterseditorsand other communicators who cover sciencehealthenvironmentand technology is designed to help people within our community expand and diversify their networks and find potential freelancerscollaboratorseditors to pitchconference panelistsaward judgesnew colleaguesvoices to follow on social mediaand more. View or join the database today!