Top tips
Here are some top tips, short articles, and snippets from our workshop booklets.
Quoting people in your presentation
Famous people are not the only source of quotes.
Visual aids – preparing and delivering
Don’t hide behind your visual aids or use them as speech notes. Step out in front and let people see your natural style and enthusiasm.
Writing an e-newsletter
Keep the content concise, relevant and timely, with one specific theme for each edition.
Editing your own writing
Are there words that don’t add any value (‘centre around’, ‘committed to’, ‘in terms of’, ‘such as these’)?
Quoting people in your presentation
Famous people are not the only source of quotes.
Brainstorming
Aim for a large number of ideas – focus on quantity, not quality.
Writing a media release
Often it’s not the quality of the science, but the way you ‘package’ your story that gains media coverage.
What makes a good news story?
It’s the ‘so what’ factor. The media is interested in how a scientist’s work will change the lives of their readers and viewers. They are much less interested in the clever science that went into the work.
Doing a television interview
Television is the most powerful and demanding form of media. It’s also the most time consuming to produce.
Media release checklist – the 20 ‘must haves’
14. The whole media release is less than 1 page.
Media release checklist – the 20 ‘must haves’
14. The whole media release is less than 1 page.
Controlling an interview
When you are preparing for an interview, it may help to remind yourself of the different priorities of researchers and journalists:
Gaining media coverage at scientific events
Journalists are always on the lookout for a good story. Conferences, symposia and other events usually have at least one newsworthy story or speaker.
Dealing with difficult media interviews
‘Bad news’ stories about difficult or contentious subjects should be carefully planned and released in the same way as ‘good news’ stories.