LEARNING SCIENCE is an enlightening experience, especially for curious young minds. In the center of efforts to make sense of the exotic and complex world of science lies a group of reporters and editors working arduously to publish science magazines for children. In celebration of Korea’s Children’s Day on May 5, The Yonsei Annals interviewed Kim Jeong, the editor-in-chief of Kids Science DongA to gain insights into the field of science journalism.

Annals:  Could you briefly introduce Kids Science DongA?

Kim: Kids Science DongA is a biweekly magazine with over 70,000 subscribers consisting mostly of elementary students in grades 3 and 6. Half of the magazine consists of cartoons and serves to introduce interesting scientific concepts encompassing chemistry, biology, physics, earth science, and computer programming. Some articles also cover interviews and current issues.

   Our magazine is interactive and encourages active participation from the readers. We have a community of young writers who post articles on our online community called Popcorn Planet; our professional reporters edit these articles which are sometimes published in the magazine. We also give out online press cards to these young journalists and grant free or discounted entry to 86 different museums and science centers. Additionally, Kids Science DongA has distinctive articles dedicated to contributions from its readers including a debate section on controversial topics—such as the use of ChatGPT in assignments or the forced extinction of disease-carrying mosquitos—with responses taken directly from our online community. We also publish snippets of our projects, including the “Plastic Diet Project” where readers share different ways they are reducing plastic in their daily lives, as well as the “Earth-Loving Explorers" where participants post photos, sounds, videos, or locations of organisms on our mobile application—contributing to the biological species data managed and used by scientists for research and restoration of organisms’ habitats.

Annals: What does Kids Science DongA’s production process look like?

Kim: First, we go through an editorial meeting to brainstorm topic ideas. Then we have meetings with designers about the magazine layout, illustrations, and overall design. Because our magazine is for children, we take the visual aspect of the magazine very seriously; after the photos and illustrations are complete, we set photos and text on paper and confirm their arrangements. After reporters complete their drafts, we go through the editing process. As for the cartoons, cartoon artists send a storyboard for the reporters to fact-check the scientific content and discuss further adjustments if necessary.

Annals: What was your main motivation to work in the field of science journalism?

Kim: I majored in chemistry and double majored in mass communication. I have always loved science, but I didn’t think that becoming a researcher was my calling. I decided that I wanted to become a person who could spread the joy of science by creating content. I chose magazines as a medium rather than straight news[1] which tends to be short pieces of writing that are produced and consumed rapidly. Looking back, I aspired to be a journalist when I was little and I had a passion for reading and writing, which I believe ultimately led me to this field.

Annals: What does your typical day at work look like?

Kim: In the morning, I usually go through a list of science media outlets such as Science, Nature and Royal Society, check current issues that our team can possibly write about, and send the sources to reporters. Because the deadlines for our drafts are before noon, I set a personal goal of finishing editing one article by midday. Other than that, my workday is a series of meetings. I have meetings with reporters and designers or with possible donors and guest writers where I introduce and promote our magazine. My team tries to reach out to people who can contribute to our magazine; recently, we worked with a nature photographer specializing in photographing mushrooms. Because reporters tend to be busy working on their own articles, I try to provide sources of inspiration, suggest new ideas, and contact different people.

Annals: What are some things you need to consider when producing a magazine for a young audience?

Kim: There is something I always say to the new reporters: don’t self-censor your topics. We do not restrict the range of topic selection. Children all have access to web portals and social media and consume news in the same way adults do. The problem lies in the fact that news articles on the Internet tend to be short and often lack background information, making them very difficult for children to grasp. Science lies everywhere and is integrated into every part of society, so I believe that children must be exposed to current issues and be trained to think independently and reasonably about them. Although we may deal with socio-politically sensitive topics, we try our best to exclude violent, sexual, or hateful elements. For instance, when covering an investigative article on animal abuse, we tried to focus on the science of forensic investigation and how the abuse was revealed, keeping away from overly describing the harrowing details of the abuse.

   Another aspect we take into consideration is diversity and inclusion. In our illustrations and cartoons, we make sure to include about the same number of female characters as their male counterparts. We also try our best to increase coverage of female scientists and cut out any elements that may reinforce gender stereotypes.

   In terms of the delivery of information, we usually use scientific terminologies with footnotes. Because our readers will eventually learn about these concepts further in their educational journeys, I find it meaningless to completely avoid using jargon and oversimplify the complexity of the content. Of course, I do not expect our readers to entirely digest the in-depth knowledge provided by our experts; we do cut down parts that seem too difficult or confusing to understand. Drawing the line can be hard, but it is important not to underestimate our readers. Children and adolescents probably have the greatest curiosity and interest in science; thus, I think that distinguishing what is suited for adults and what is suited for kids is an unnecessary task.

Annals: In what ways might science magazines differ from other magazines?

Kim: As an editor of a science magazine, I anticipate our readers to acquire scientific thinking—a process of reaching a well-grounded conclusion based on evidence. I am not sure if this is a unique feature of science magazines, but our magazine aims to ask questions and motivate our readers to come up with their own answers. As the saying goes, science and technology are double-edged swords; thus, I believe that science magazines should provide a general, balanced overview of a certain topic—especially on a controversial one such as stem cells—rather than presenting “the truth” or “the answer.” 

Annals: What are your proudest moments and difficulties working at Kids Science DongA?

Kim: The proudest moments are when I get direct responses to my work. For example, as a part of the “Plastic Diet Project,” a reader posted a picture of a container she brought to the supermarket to put tofu in; I felt thankful because this shows that our readers are integrating knowledge from our magazine into their everyday lives. I also knew an elementary student who participated in the “Earth-Loving Explorers" project back in 2016 when I was working as a reporter. This student graduated high school last year and gave a presentation as a university student, thanking me at the end of the presentation; I was moved by the fact that this project has been such a significant part of someone else’s life. Another proud moment was when one of our reporters, Lee Da-sol, received the Kavli Science Journalism Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for the “Our Neighborhood Zoo Protectors” project aimed to enhance animal welfare in zoos. This was a truly fruitful experience involving 800 children and veterinarians and an opportunity to cooperate with people inside and outside our organization.

   My greatest difficulty has been finding the balance between what we wish to create and what the readers may want to see more of. For instance, adding memes, clickbait, or provocative content may allow us to reach more readers and presumably make the magazine more entertaining. However, the goal of our magazine is to create evergreen content that resonates with the readers rather than reactive and one-off content; thus, we want to avoid merely reproducing what is viral on popular media. In this sense, there is a tradeoff between entertainment and quality work that we must always consider.

Annals: What do you think defines a good article?

Kim: I believe that the standard of determining what a good article is should be strictly determined from the audience’s perspective; if the readers think an article is good, then it is a good article. This is why I value communication and interaction with the readers. Through our website, we constantly gauge reactions from the audience and receive feedback from our young readers, who tend to be very frank and straightforward with their opinions. 

Annals: You have the experience of working as a reporter and an editor. What are some differences between working as a reporter and an editor?

Kim: I have worked as a reporter for about 12 years and have worked as an editor for 5 to 6 years. When I was a reporter, I was focused on writing my own articles and submitting them by the deadline; I was ambitious, but my ambitions were rather restricted to my own work that was to be published under my name. As I became an editor, I had to look at the bigger picture. I started to think from the perspective of the readers and about ways the magazine could contribute more meaning to them. I liked my experience both as a reporter and an editor, and I believe that the transition broadened my view in journalism.

Annals: What is your ultimate career goal?

Kim: I think future possibilities are expansive, and I am still exploring them. I think about my future writing a book about something that I have not been able to cover in science magazines, or opening a library piled with books. I have found that many people who have longer work experience cannot answer this question with great certainty. I have not found an ultimate goal, but I don’t feel the need to feel pressured; I am searching for what I can do, and I believe it is something to do with creating content.

Annals: Do you have any advice for undergraduate students who aspire to pursue a career in science journalism?

Kim: I have seen many applicants who have studiously prepared for the steps necessary to get into a news media company without genuinely thinking about what becoming a journalist means for them. I think that students should explore their fields of interest through diverse experiences; read and write more, even about seemingly trivial topics. Science journalists do not need to have an academic background in science. Journalists need to be good communicators, someone who can quench the readers’ curiosity rather than someone who writes mechanically enumerated facts. If you are interested in becoming a science journalist, I highly recommend being more observant of the world around you; explore the burning questions in science, what new technologies are being released, and what kinds of discussions are taking place within the scientific community.

[1] Straight news: News that presents essential facts and information in a concise and impartial manner