The Federation was founded in November 2002 at the 3rd World Conference of Science Journalists in São José dos Campos, Brazil, where Canadian science writer and broadcaster Véronique Morin was elected its first president. At the 4th World Conference in Montréal, in October 2004, more than 600 participants from 58 nations attended, as well as representatives from 30 science journalism associations worldwide, and Australian science journalist and magazine editor Wilson da Silva was elected the Federation's second president. 

On 18th April 2007, during the 5th World Conference of Science Journalists held in Melbourne (Australia), BBC science journalist Pallab Ghosh became President. On 1st July 2009, Ms. Nadia El-Awady from Egypt was elected as the fourth president during the 6th World Conference held in London (United Kingdom).

The current President, Mr. Chul Joong Kim, was confirmed as president in June 2013, in Helsinki (Finland) during the 8th World Conference of Science Journalists.

The Federation is governed by a seven-member international board with representation from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Mission Statement

• The World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation, representing science journalists' associations globally. The Federation encourages strong, critical coverage of issues in science and technology, environment, health and medicine, agriculture and related fields.

Objectives

• The purpose of the WFSJ is to develop awareness of science journalism internationally by building the capacity of media professionals to undertake engaging, incisive, accurate, impartial, high quality science journalism.
• The WFSJ nurtures science journalists and science journalism through education, projects, conferences, and the creation of national associations. It is dedicated to fostering collegiality and professional networks to strengthen science journalism, and in turn, civil society.
• The WFSJ aims to safeguard the rights and livelihoods of science journalists globally, inclusive of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, and sexual preference.

Activities

• The WFSJ promotes and defends the free flow of information and open dialogue about scientific research and related issues - essential to good science journalism.
• The WFSJ provides a forum for its membership, and the wider public, to share advances, achievements, challenges, opportunities, and trends in science journalism internationally.
• The WFSJ promotes best practices in science journalism.
• The WFSJ selects and supports the host association for the World Conference of Science Journalists.
• The WFSJ undertakes training, mentoring, and education of science journalists globally through initiatives such as the World Conference of Science Journalists, mentoring schemes, twinning of associations, and other professional opportunities.
• The WFSJ supports science journalism associations, and encourages the foundation of new ones.

Membership

• WFSJ members are national, regional and international associations which represent science journalists, broadcasters, writers, editors and communicators working across all media platforms.
• To become a member of the WFSJ an association applies and is accepted in accordance with the WFSJ bylaws. Applications for membership will be reviewed and decided upon by the WFSJ Board.