Sign in

Elise Cutts

@elisecutts.bsky.social
2.7K followers 1.6K following 3.8K posts

Science journalist in Austria writing for Quanta, New Scientist, Scientific American, Science, and others. Signal: emc.7243623. Get my newsletter about the forces that shape how research is done, shared, believed, and acted upon: www.reviewertoo.com

PostsRepliesMedia
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 1m
I thought I was alone wanting this change, but it turns out that the US National Writers Union's Freelance Solidarity Project also has 50% upon 1st draft or 33.3% upon commission as one of their demands! Because it's just... common sense? Why hold off paying writers what we're guaranteed anyways?
nwu.org
Actions and Campaigns | NWU
Why organize? As the media industry becomes increasingly unstable, we must build a community to protect each other, fight isolation and alienation, and experience the gains of collective bargaining. T...
000
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 1m
Esp. for magazine writing, the delays between submission of a draft and an editor finally publishing it and paying for it can be huge. e.g.: I was paid in October for a draft I submitted in MARCH. And I'm waiting on another ~$4000 from a draft I submitted in July that hasn't yet been edited.
100
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 1m
Media outlets should pay freelancers the "kill fee" upon assignment — or at least for the 1st draft. It's guaranteed even if the piece isn't published, so why wait? As things stand, writers usually have to wait until final acceptance or even publication of their draft to get paid *at all*.
100
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 28m
Any other freelancers want to relocate to California with me and start a magazine? (Joking, you'll never get me out of Austria. But unironically I expect this amazing law to lead to lots of shared houses full of journalists popping in California within a year or so, hah).
gov.ca.gov
Governor Newsom signs bill strengthening local journalism, defending a free press as cornerstone of democracy | Governor of California
000
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
NEW: In March the White House released an FY27 budget request that zeroed out the National Science Foundation's directorate of Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE). For months it was unclear what would happen. Now, with FY26 over, the damage to SBE is coming to light. My reporting:
science.org
‘Complete devastation’: How NSF gutted its social sciences research
Agency body that funds sociology, linguistics, and archaeology studies in U.S. gave 90% fewer new grants this year
9659515
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
are you in natural sciences or social science? I have the feeling this is more of a problem in humanities but couldn’t find any data to support the hunch
100
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
If you think the plight of German academics is not relevant to you — are you sure? I see a lot of fantasizing about escaping Trump's US science apocalypse around here. And Germany is a popular destination for international postdocs...
131
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Jörg Sternagel @joergsternagel.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
@elisecutts.bsky.social über die prekäre Situation der Privatdozent:innen #PDprekär
041
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I'll be at the ECSJ/WISSENSWERTE conference in Hannover next week! Would love to connect with other science journalists while I'm there.
010
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Marianna Limas @mnlimas.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Five pitching tips for early-career journalists (by @rachelcourtland.com) Eight Signs a Story Needs More Reporting (by @katherinejwu.com) The two secret ingredients of great science media (by @elisecutts.bsky.social) Q&A with @siricarpenter.bsky.social on The Best Science Stories and How They Work 🧪
sciencewriting.substack.com
✍️Science Writing News Roundup #287
Five pitching tips for early-career journalists + Apply for the Mass Media Fellowship by January 4, 2027.
032
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Become a paying subscribe to listen to the audio edition and see just how badly it scrambles my brain to say German words in English sentences.
040
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
This week's post is more complaining about the Kafkaesque nightmare of an academic system in Austria and Germany. Have you ever heard of the title Privatdozent? No? Be glad. Because it's a title, not a job, but holding onto it requires you to teach — even if you are not paid for it.
reviewertoo.com
1000s German academics have to teach — even if they're never paid for it
In Germany and Austria there's a degree higher than a PhD traditionally required for professorships, and it's kind of a terrible deal.
194
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Alex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · 02/10/2026
The math is horrifying: I have already formalized my own 30% pay cut when I wrote this year's budget. Fortunately, by virtue of having to move to another country with a lower cost of living, I still have a living wage. But it is true that for most newsrooms, everything teeters on the margins.
1147
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Let me say a couple words about paywalls. They’re annoying. I feel that (as a news consumer) and know that (as a news publisher). But asking for your email, either to read an article or even to access a gift link (someone said this happened to them a a Times gift link a moment ago) isn’t some …
2238176
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
There are two secret ingredients necessary for great science media. Here‘s a hint: they rhyme with honey and lime
reviewertoo.com
The two secret ingredients of great science media
Here's a hint: they rhyme with honey and lime.
0103
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Quanta Magazine @quantamagazine.org · 23/09/2026
Scientists have a history of trying — and failing — to link biology and quantum mechanics. The real connection between them may be in the math. @elisecutts.bsky.social reports: www.quantamagazine.org/biology-migh...
quantamagazine.org
Biology Might Not Be Quantum, but Its Math Is Quantumlike | Quanta Magazine
Scientists have a history of trying — and failing — to link biology and quantum mechanics. The real connection between them may be in the math.
3368
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Spaghettieis is a top-tier cursed Germanosphere food
160
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Early-career science journalists: apply for this! I'm currently in the program and it has been a truly amazing and enriching experience.
095
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Quanta Magazine @quantamagazine.org · 23/09/2026
New on Transformation: Software developer finds first 3D “einstein” tile @kkakaes.bsky.social reports: www.quantamagazine.org/updates/tran...
quantamagazine.org
Transformation | Quanta Magazine
A weekly dispatch exploring the latest news in math and AI…
071
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Zach Weinersmith @zachweinersmith.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
We are about to see an avalanche of AI generated animations. I think all those low-quality children's animations can already be replaced, which suggests they will be soon. Opus 5.5 is incredibly powerful and cheap. The weirdening is accelerating. Like, this isn't even obviously AI.
2537544
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
If AI scams — and even just lazy AI pitches that flood inboxes — force us to rely on relationship networks to establish trust, science journalism is going to close up. It's going to become more of a handshakes-and-closed-doors club. Diversity, openness, and fairness will suffer.
031
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
A scammer impersonated a science journalist to pitch (AI-generated?) stories to Science and Nature, and it worked in at least one case. This is unfortunately not an isolated case. And this kind of fraud, which LLMs make too easy, could have serious consequences for (science) journalism as a whole.
reviewertoo.com
A scammer impersonated a science journalist. It worked.
AI fraud is going to make it harder for new voices to break into science journalism
100
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Chelsea Harvey @chelseaeharvey.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Friends! If you're attending #sciwri26 this weekend, stop through our Saturday panel: how to report on science with a policy lens. With the great @aniloza.bsky.social @dangaristo.bsky.social @alexwitze.bsky.social -- gonna be a 🔥 session, y'all sciencewriters2026.org/schedule/
Putting Policy in Perspective: How to report on science with a policy lens
NASW Professional Development Session
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
CH2M Hill Alumni Center, Cascade Ballroom C
Description
Sweeping changes to U.S. science policy made by the Trump administration have upended the research landscape and, by association, the science writers who cover it. From student writers to seasoned correspondents, we’re all struggling to understand often-byzantine policies and their impacts, so that we can explain to our readers and listeners. This session will equip science writers with the tools to cover science policy and its effects on science.

Some of the most important and compelling science stories incorporate policy: coverage of pollution regulations, vaccination schedules, missions to Mars, and more. Many, if not most, science stories can be made stronger and more insightful with policy context included. Just as meteorologists now talk about climate change during their weather forecasts, science writers can include relevant policy details into their stories to place scientific results in context.

Our speakers have a wealth of experience covering science policy in the Trump administration and will speak about how they've broken news, investigated, and turned policy news into a narrative. They’ll share broadly applicable resources for sourcing, contacting government agencies, using databases, understanding legal battles — the nuts and bolts of what’s needed to cover science policy in this environment. Following these presentations, there will be a moderated Q&A and time for questions from the audience.

Speakers
Anil Oza, STAT, Staff Reporter
Chelsea Harvey, POLITICO – E&E News, Reporter

Moderator and Organizer
Dan Garisto, Freelance, Science Journalist

Organizer
Alex Witze, Nature, Retained Correspondent
2197
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Rachel Courtland @rachelcourtland.com · 21/09/2026
If you're attending #sciwri26 this weekend and have an interest in AI—and the kinds of questions to ask when covering it—I'll be talking with three very smart experts on Saturday about ethics and accountability and where we go from here.
0103
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Update: the entire wing of F gates seems to be one big ad for Codex. Also a canned coffee cost $10
030
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I‘m passing through, but I have family in the area - so I know at least 4 non-tech people must in fact also live here haha.
010
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
In case I forgot I was in the San Francisco airport, there are ads for coding agents to remind me 😂 Codex: you, too, can sit in front of 4 computer screens in striped socks, one foot on your chair, playing a spaceship video game in a room that also contains a Shiba Inu and an expensive looking rug
140
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Kate Evans @kategevans.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
So chilling - but thanks @elisecutts.bsky.social for the roundup and thoughtful commentary. "If AI scams — and even just lazy AI pitches that flood inboxes — force us to rely on relationship networks to establish trust, science journalism is going to close up." www.reviewertoo.com/2026-09-21-s...
reviewertoo.com
A scammer impersonated a science journalist. It worked.
AI fraud is going to make it harder for new voices to break into science journalism
072
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I'm starting to get wary of reposting any image that isn't idk a centuries-old painting I recognize without first inspecting it closely for signs of AI
080
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
"The report, according to one of the sources, was 'entirely false.' But it also 'almost started a war,' the source said." Uh
edition.cnn.com
Exclusive: US military had close call after using AI for false intelligence report, sources say | CNN Politics
The episode shows the risks of using this new, relatively poorly understood technology in the middle of the Iran war
030
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I'm so tired of AI doomer rhetoric because it makes worrying about AI sound like a crazy person thing. No, I am not worried about Claude paperclip maximizing us all into oblivion tomorrow. Yes, I am worried about people doing unspeakably horrible things to each other using the AI we already have.
171
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I usually try to be respectful and constructive. But after being disrespected enough, there comes a point when I feel like it's almost *lying* to be polite. I'm not talking about personal insults, more dropping the pretense that things are fine — and calling garbage garbage if that's what it is.
061
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The irony of technology-ing ourselves back into a world of hand-written letters, hah
110
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I keep wondering if something like RiffReporter in Germany could work for the anglosphere. www.riffreporter.de/de
riffreporter.de
RiffReporter | Autorïnnen-Magazin: Analysen und Hintergründe
Die Genossenschaft für freien Journalismus. Freie Journalistïnnen berichten direkt für Sie – über Wissenschaft, Kultur, Umwelt, Technik, Leben und die Welt.
110
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Bethany Brookshire @beebrookshire.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Carl Sagan was many things, brilliant, a wonderful communicator. But he wasn’t a journalist, he wasn’t investigating, or even asking tough questions. That was NOT HIS JOB. And that’s fine! But so many people, including journalists, have said "we need another Carl Sagan."
2254
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I write a newsletter, I want people to pay me for it (shameless plug) — but exploding newsrooms and turning them into a constellation of Substacks and YouTube channels and TikToks and podcasts is not the fix for traditional media people sometimes act like it is.
030
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Another problem is legal stuff. If you're writing a Substack on your own, you have no legal department. Some people are maybe ballsy enough to do a hard-hitting investigation that could get them sued or report on litigious companies/people anyways. But many of us will not risk that.
100
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
There's very little science journalism on Substack/Ghost/etc. I could find at all. The closest things were small nonprofit health or environment newsrooms that rely on grant funding. The closest "pure" Substack w/ a working business I found to science was an explanatory journalism one about AI.
120
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I spent the last several months talking to a lot of people running indie media outlets. And: 1. Subscription-based models like a paid Substack also only work in certain niches. 2. Indie media is risky + usually requires at least a year of on-ramp before it can replace a salary (if it ever does)
130
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Bethany Brookshire @beebrookshire.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Many things to think about in here. I'm sure @chriscmooney.bsky.social and Lewenstein could have used another 10,000 words to unpack it all. Some thoughts: 1. The most popular science voices HAVE ALWAYS BEEN communicators. Not journalists. theconversation.com/is-science-j...
theconversation.com
Is science journalism dying? Comparing a ‘science crash’ 40 years ago to today
While science journalism layoffs pile up and publications shutter, more science communication than ever is available via other online venues.
23818
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I'm a journalist, so I don't get emails like this from students. But I do get them from... anyone who would email a journalist. It feels like disrespect!
120
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Courtney Hilton @courtneybhilton.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
These AI-slop email enquiries from students are so depressing. I am not anti AI, but if you can't be bothered to spend the time to write me an email yourself—you know, just straight up with your brain; old-school style—I don't see why I should spend any time writing back.
1183
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Are birds as soft as they look?
200
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Simon Fisher @profsimonfisher.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A decade ago, a “weird” kitten was found on a road near a Bolivian forest. Too small to be a housecat, he had a scrunched-up face, short round ears, long whiskers, & a coat of leopard-like spots. DNA analysis now reveals him as the very first of a newly discovered species & I think I'm in love. 😻🧬🧪👇
nationalgeographic.com
Meet the First New Cat Species Discovered in 100 Years
A small, spotted tiger cat from Bolivia may just be the beginning of a wave of new small cat species.
626486
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
If the EU wants to attract and retain internationally mobile talent, it really, *really* needs to find a permanent residency or citizenship solution for people who rack up years of living in Europe but have to move countries every few years (academics are the classic example)
2110
Reposted by Elise Cutts
Katie O'Reilly @drkatfish.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
A screenshot of a Tumblr post about scientists wanting to tell people about their science
162242778
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I'm sure journalists differ in their preferences, but I always prefer longer interviews because random scientist ramble-tangents are usually where my next story comes from ;) And many of us got into this work because we enjoy nerding out haha
010
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Getting to experience vicarious nerd joy is one of the best parts of my job as a science journalist 😂
11173
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
It's always a great sign when an interview with a scientist starts like this: Me: Hi there, thanks for talking to me. I'd like to ask you some questions about [thing]. Scientist: OH MY GOODNESS I LOVE [thing]!!! I could talk about [thing] for hours!!!!!
1135332
Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Is AI slop going to force us to admit that maybe having taste is good, actually?
060