Great narrative journalism takes readers on a journey by telling stories with scenes and characters as well developed as those you would find in a good novel. It’s gratifying to write, but the research, reporting and pitching of the idea to an outlet take time and determination. In this webinar, seasoned editors and reporters will offer tips for breaking into narrative journalism, including knowing what editors want, crafting pitches and figuring out whether the pay will be worth the effort.

As investigative reporter Alison Young writes in “Pandora’s Gamble: Lab Leaks, Pandemics, and a World at Risk,” the truth is “lab accidents happen with shocking frequency, even in the world’s best-run labs.” That means journalists have a crucial role in holding the scientific community accountable. In this webinar, Young will talk about her book and provide context about what is known about what happened at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and about lab leaks more broadly.

The most recent screening guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force are controversial and confusing. Journalists must report responsibly on the latest health recommendations while talking about cancer — a subject that is often emotionally charged — using the latest scientific evidence. At this webinar, experts will suggest approaches to putting the latest screening recommendations in context while eliminating hype and not creating false hope.