Science journalism - measured, not assumed
These numbers reflect what learners at Bagoxoi actually do - how they engage, where they struggle, and what they carry forward into their work. Nothing is rounded up to look better than it is.
see the programme
by the numbers
What the data shows after two years of delivery
of graduates publish at least one piece within six months of completing the course
median time from enrolment to a learner's first full draft reviewed by a working editor
words - average length of the final capstone piece submitted by learners in the advanced track
of learners come from non-science backgrounds, including law, education, and public administration
context
Patterns worth paying attention to
Raw numbers rarely explain themselves. The figures we track at Bagoxoi point to specific friction points in science writing education - and specific moments where learners make real progress. The breakdown below reflects what we see across cohorts, not an ideal scenario.
Most learners underestimate how long source verification takes. Getting comfortable interviewing a researcher typically requires three to five practice sessions before the conversation stops feeling like an exam.
-
-
Drop-off happens at module four
This is where learners first encounter peer-reviewed literature and must summarise findings without misrepresenting them. It is the hardest skill in science journalism and the data reflects that clearly.
-
-
Feedback loops shorten completion time
Learners who receive editor feedback within 48 hours of submitting a draft complete the course 3 weeks faster on average than those waiting longer. Response time matters more than feedback length.
-
-
Regional science desks are the primary destination
Most graduates who go on to publish do so in regional outlets covering health, environment, or technology. National science desks remain competitive and take longer to break into.
Two learners, two different starting points
Neither arrived as a writer. Both left with published work. The paths were different and neither was straightforward.
I spent fifteen years as a secondary school biology teacher before joining Bagoxoi. Writing for a general audience turned out to be harder than I expected - not because of the science, but because I kept assuming readers knew more than they did. That took real unlearning.
Fionnuala Treacy
Former biology teacher, now contributor to a regional health publication
My background is in environmental law, so I could read the research but struggled to find the story inside it. The module on interviewing scientists was where things shifted for me - learning to ask what something means rather than what it shows made every conversation more useful.
Aoibhe Ní Dhochartaigh
Environmental law background, published in two national outlets since 2024