WORKSHOP
From principles to practice: how to implement WFSJ ethical guidelines in the real world
Over the past years, the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) has coordinated a global initiative to reflect on and strengthen ethics in science journalism. The result is a collaboratively-produced document—“Guiding Principles for Journalists Covering Science”— which has been developed through workshops, consultations, and feedback from journalists and associations across continents.
The guide, as it stands, outlines how the WFSJ ethical guidelines apply in the real world. It considers three broad areas, including ethical principles, best practices, and offers advice for stakeholders, including editors, scientists, and communicators who interact with the media.
This next phase of the project is to address implementation of the guidelines, which will be discussed at a workshop held before the WCSJ2025 conference.
Chhatra KarkiSession proposer, producer and moderator| World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) | Nepal
Chhatra Karki is freelance science journalist based in Kathmandu, Nepal, and the founding president of Nepal Forum of Science Journalists. He has over two decades of experience in newspaper and online news reporting, and covers in-depth stories on science and technology, environment, and health. He is the vice president of WFSJ.
Graciele Almeida de OliveiraSpeaker | Brazilian Network of Science Journalists and Communicators | Brazil
Graciele Almeida de Oliveira is a specialist science journalist with a doctorate in biochemistry from the Chemistry Institute of the São Paulo University (USP).
Abdul Rahman AbotalebSpeaker | Yemen Science Network | Yemen
Abdulrahman Abotaleb is the editor-in-chief of the Yemen Science Network, and co-founder of the Yemeni Association of Investigative Journalists. He has co-led media and tech projects with Yemen News Agency, UNOPS, Internews, and ISOC.
Vera NovaisSpeaker | ABSW (Association of Bristish Science Writers), SciComPt (Rede de Comunicação de Ciência e Tecnologia de Portugal) | Portugal
Vera Novais is a freelance science and health journalist with over a decade of experience in reporting for general news media. She is passionate about providing accurate, evidence-based information to the public and countering mis- and disinformation in her work. As the Community Manager for the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), Vera fosters a welcoming, inclusive environment for members, supporting their needs and helping strengthen the professional community. She has been an ABSW member since 2017 and plays an active role in the international science journalism landscape, collaborating regularly with the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) and serving on the board of SciComPt, the Portuguese Network for Science and Technology Communication.
Rosalia OmungoSpeaker | Kenya Environment and Science Journalists Association | Kenya
Rosalia Omungo is the CEO of the Kenya Editors’ Guild. She aims to advance journalism excellence through mentorship, policy advocacy, and community engagement. She was an MIT Knight Journalism Fellow in 2017, had previously has worked as a TV editor and climate reporter. She has been a Commonwealth awardee, and a scholar at UC Berkeley.