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The Science Media Centre - Introduction to the News Media - Wednesday October 30th 2013

If you’re frustrated by what you read and see in the news and you care about how the media presents your science, or you just want to know more about how the media works then this is the event for you. The Science Media Centre would like to invite you to a special Introduction to the News Media event for mental health and neuroscience researchers.

It will be held at Imperial College London on Wednesday 30^th October 2013 from 13.00 - 17.00 in the Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington campus. There will be a drinks reception afterwards and the entire event is free.This event is specifically geared towards researchers with little or no media experience. If you wish to attend please send your full name, job title, institutional e-mail address and phone number(s) to introduction@sciencemediacentre.org. If you have any colleagues who might be interested we would be grateful if you could please pass the details on.

Science has never been as prominent in the news as it is today and it is paramount that the issues are communicated correctly. We have some excellent science journalists in the UK, but the news stories will never be covered as accurately as we want them to be without the direct involvement of experts like you.  

What is involved?
The event is open to 170 scientists and you will be given a beginner’s guide to the media and insight into the way the news media works. You will hear from journalists, press officers and other scientists and you will be able to quiz them about:

• how journalists find science and health stories
• why certain stories make it into the news and others are ignored
• why timing matters
• top tips for dealing with the media and how to stop your work being misreported
• the role of the press officer
• the role of the news editor
• the importance of engaging with the media and how to do it

This event does NOT include skills-based media training. It will not prepare you for a confrontation with Paxman or Humphrys but it will give you a flavour of the media to help you understand its demands and make it easier for you to work with journalists.

Is it for you?
The event is designed specifically for scientists with little or no media experience and we welcome scientists and engineers at any stage of their career in academia or industry from any institution (PhD level or professional equivalent and above). It is especially relevant for scientists working in areas that are controversial and receive a lot of media coverage.

Posted on 08/10/2013