Media skills for scientists
How to share your science effectively via journalists and the media
Unlock the power of effective science media skills
Are you a university, company, or research institution looking to equip your scientists with the essential skills to navigate media interviews? Media Skills for Scientists is the answer you have been looking for. Led by award-winning science journalists and trainers with a background in research-active science, this course equips your scientists with the necessary skills to excel in media interviews.
Imagine having a team of scientists who can confidently convey complex scientific concepts to the public through engaging media interviews. Through interactive sessions, course participants will learn how to craft compelling messages, handle tricky interview questions, and develop a deep understanding of how the media works. They will gain practical tools and techniques that can be immediately applied to their scientific communication efforts.
With more than 20 years of experience and having trained thousands of scientists, our expert trainers know exactly what it takes to help your scientists communicate effectively, clearly and responsibly with the media. Empower your team to become influential ambassadors for your institution.
Enquire about Media Skills for Scientists today and give your scientists the competitive edge they need to succeed in today's media-driven world. Witness their transformation into confident communicators who can captivate audiences and make a lasting impact.
The course at a glance
Here's an overview of what the course covers and the skills your scientists will develop. Scroll down to the next section for a detailed course curriculum.
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Understand how the media work and what journalists look for in stories
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Know how to write press releases and work with press officers
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Plan and deliver effective print, radio and TV interviews
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Know how to communicate responsibly and avoid miscommunication
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Practice interviews with working science journalists
Course curriculum
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1
Welcome to the course!
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Course welcome
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How to use this course
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Please complete this short survey so that we can tailor the content of the course to suit your needs
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2
Science in the media
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Introduction to the media
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Introduce yourself and share a science news story to discuss in the course community
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How science hits the headlines
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Anatomy of a press release
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Step into the shoes of a science reporter
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3
Explaining your science in press releases & interviews
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Pitching at the right level
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How would you pitch your research?
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Connecting with the audience
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Connecting with the audience: case study
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Language: dealing with jargon
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4
Understanding media interviews
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What journalists want from interviews
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Broadcast media interviews
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Requirements of TV news
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Requirements of radio / podcasting
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Preparing for media interviews
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Example of an interview plan in action
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Exercise: create your own interview plan
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Webinar: practice your interviews live with science journalists
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5
Next Steps...
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Best practice: risk, uncertainty and avoiding miscommunication
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More resources for you
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FAQ
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Who is this course for?
We run this course for institutions and companies who want to help their scientists or science graduate students communicate effectively with journalists.
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What does "on demand" mean?
"On-demand" means that course attendees can access the course lessons (a mixture of videos, text lessons, case studies, quizzes and more) at their convenience.
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What are the "live webinar" sessions?
These are sessions that we deliver via Zoom on a fixed date and at a fixed time. We use these to do practice media interviews and give attendees personalised feedback.
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Is the course completely self-paced?
No. We run this course as a "cohort-based" course, which means the course has a fixed start and end date, and trainers are available to answer questions/chat to attendees throughout the duration of the course. This gives attendees a much better learning experience and means that far more of them complete the training.
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How long does this course run for?
We can adapt this to your needs, but to balance the demands of work and training, we recommend running it over a period of 2 - 4 weeks.
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Can you bespoke the course materials?
Certainly! We can tailor the course content to the needs of your scientists, and will create a unique, private course on our platform just for you. We can also add your institution's branding to materials such as the course completion certificates. Contact us to find out more.
Instructor(s)
Senior Instructor
Jon Copley
Jon is Professor of Ocean Exploration & Science Communication at the University of Southampton and a former reporter and news editor of New Scientist magazine. In his training, he draws on 20 years of experience of being a research-active scientist who communicates his work to the public and policymakers both directly and via the media. He is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4 and World Service science radio programmes and has extensive experience of broadcast news interviews about his own research. He is a scientific advisor and onscreen contributor to TV documentaries including BBC Blue Planet II, and the author of popular science book Ask an Ocean Explorer (2019).
Senior Instructor
Claire Ainsworth
Claire is a freelance science journalist who writes for publications including New Scientist, Nature, Science and The Observer. Prior to going freelance, she was Senior Reporter, News and Features at Nature, and before that, a news reporter and features editor at New Scientist magazine. She has also regularly appeared as a science news commentator on The Science Hour on the BBC World Service. She has a doctorate in developmental biology and has won awards for her science journalism including an Association of British Science Writers Award. She has been training scientists in science communication in the UK, EU and further afield since 2000.