Sea Scholars Newsletter

Are you one of Florida Sea Grant’s over 1,500 funded students with a story to share? FSG is looking for students who want to showcase their story writing, photography, and digital media around the topics of healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies, and environmental literacy and workforce development.

To contribute to the FSG student newsletter, you must have been previously or are currently funded through one of Florida Sea Grant’s diverse funding opportunities. Students can be from any academic background.

Step 1: Pitch a story idea. 

Pitch us a story or content idea if it has some relationship to the FSG focal points, which include but are not limited to: seafood safety, aquaculture and fisheries management, coastal ecosystems ecology, coastal planning, coral disease, clean boating, sustainable fisheries, harmful algal blooms and oil spill science. 

When drafting a pitch, consider/answer these questions: 

• What is your story about? 
• Why is the topic you are covering timely? 
• Why are you the right person to write this story? 
• Do you plan to consult sources? If so, who or what? 
• How does your story help your audience? Can it help them… 
  • Solve a problem? 
  • Achieve a goal? 
  • Understand a complex issue? 
  • Help them with a student application process?

All pitches can be sent to Florida Sea Grant’s student editor, Ella Thompson, at ellathompson@ufl.edu. Ella will also be available to answer any questions and provide feedback. 

Step 2: Submit a full story: 

Once your pitch has been approved by Florida Sea Grant’s student editor, you can submit your full story to the following Google Form: Student Newsletter Submissions

The next Sea Scholars newsletter will tentatively be deployed in late August.

July 16: Pitches are due to Ella Thompson at ellathompson@ufl.edu.

August 6: Final story submissions and content is due to the Google Form.

Guidelines

The goal for writing a blog post is to enhance your writing skills, connect with your peers and help share your experiences with others.

When you’re writing contributions for Florida Sea Grant, you have creative freedom to talk about your research, work or experience. Our advice is usually to stick to the facts. If you are working in a political office, it’s okay to talk about it and the work that’s being done. What we do not allow for is individuals’ opinions on politics that indicate bias or stance. We encourage you to be casual, talk in first person and use your personal voice.

Tips For Developing Content

• Have an attention-grabbing and informative title, ~50 characters.
• Include a byline.
• A good length to aim for is 500-1500 words, which takes the average person 3-5 minutes to read.
• Aim to hook your readers at the start.
• Stick to a simple, clear point. When reading material that meanders, most people give up on the post quickly. They came to read what your title advertised and that is what they are looking for.
• Tell a story. Even if you are aiming for more informative content or something like a listicle, start with a story. Storytelling works!
• Be concise and be only as long as it takes to make your point.
• Don’t be afraid to communicate the process of science.
• A picture speaks a thousand words. As an easy guide, aim for 1 visual for every 350 words.
• If you need pictures, reach out to us! We have a database.
• When you’re summarizing research, practice good science communications. Introduce your research topic by focusing on the big picture (Know your audience. How does the research you’re discussing relate to something that a broader audience may care about?), avoid jargon, find ways to relate your ideas to the audience (i.e., metaphors, analogies)
• Submitting photography/videography/digital media: Make sure you’re shooting in good lighting and the proper camera settings. Refer to the FSG website for examples of engaging photos and videos.
• Consider your audience: Your audience will mostly be made up of opportunity-seeking students, stakeholders in various marine and coastal industries and communities as well as researchers and extension agents.
• Write what you know and show that you know it.
• Give credit where credit is due! Make sure your facts are accurate. Be transparent with your readers.
• Use several paragraphs; break up what you have written with white space where it makes sense.
• Links are great. Link to more information. Link to your Sea Grant program’s website. At the end, link to your public social media if you’d like, “Follow me on social media.”
• It is okay to be vulnerable: Writing about insecurity and how it has played out in an unfamiliar environment or a barrier you face(d) is humanizing, relatable and may help others with similar insecurities/barriers.
• Read a few blog posts from your favorite writers before you start. Make observations about why their writing appeals to you.