Engaging with journalists is one of the best ways to get your research noticed and to raise your public profile, which can lead to more collaborations and funding. This online course addresses any reservations you might have about engaging with journalists and packaging scientific information for non-scientists. It will give you the skills needed to interact successfully with the media and will show how seizing media opportunities could help advance your career.
Why this course?
- Talking to the media is a great way to communicate your research to the public and raises your public profile
- Media coverage draws public attention to the subject you are researching
- Media exposure can lead to more collaborations and funding
- Completion of the course allows you free use of Alpha Galileo's research dissemination service, meaning you can deliver your research news directly to interested journalists across the globe. Full details are found at the course end.
What’s included?
- Thirteen short, user-friendly and interactive modules, divided into short, topical lectures. All of these modules are independent and can be taken individually
- Practical tasks designed to help you apply media theory to your working practice
- Worksheets to support your learning where appropriate
- A certificate upon course completion
This course is brought to you as part of the Script project, which is made possible by the Robert Bosch Stiftung and implemented by SciDev.Net. For further information about Script visit http://www.scidev.net/script
Full list of modules contained by the Media Communication Skills for Scientists course:
- How to make news with your research
- How to simplify science without compromising its meaning
- How to simplify statistics
- How to make a compelling pitch that an editor can’t resist
- How the media works
- Maximising opportunities in the media
- How to find and work with journalists
- How to write a press release
- Handling media interviews
- Live on air: radio and TV talk-shows
- Why create a science blog
- Using social media to communicate your research
- Developing a media plan for your research
Link to the course website:
https://scidevnet.teachable.com/p/communication-course-for-scientists
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites, but it is mainly directed towards advanced scientists with a master's or Ph.D. who want to learn how to communicate their research to the public.
Application procedure
There is no application procedure. The course is free and accessible for anyone interested.
Learning outcomes
Learn:
- How to make news with your research
- How to simplify science without compromising its meaning
- How to simplify statistics
- How to make a compelling pitch that an editor can’t resist
- How the media works
- Maximising opportunities in the media
- How to find and work with journalists
- How to write a press release
- Handling media interviews
- Live on air: radio and TV talk-shows
- Why create a science blog
- Using social media to communicate your research
- Developing a media plan for your research
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