The specialist science reporter
Environment Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, Ben Cubby says scientists should trust journalists more.
The TV journalist
TV journalist Emily Rice says media 'talent' is really as simple as being friendly and easy to understand, and not being frightened of the camera.
The tabloid editor
Editor with News Ltd David Penberthy says the public would love to see more science heroes, prepared to stand up and debate sceptics on key issues like climate change.
The radio host
The ABC Science Show's Robyn Williams is also a scientist. He says performing well in media interviews may not come naturally to some scientists but is a skill that can be learnt.
The veteran all-rounder
Journalist George Negus says scientists need to relate their science to the average person's life if they want to get a message across in the media.
The view from the other side
Next: The TV interview- How to prepare your message for TV
- When to say no to a media opportunity
- How talent can be learnt
- What journalists want from you
- Why journalists think science needs more heroes
This resource is supported by CSIRO
This module was developed with support from Inspiring Australia
This module was developed with support from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources
It’s hard to imagine two working environments more different than those of journalists and scientists.
Scientists spend their days in a careful world where work can take years, or even a lifetime, to come to a conclusion.
Journalists work in an insanely busy environment where news priorities can change suddenly. They have to reduce complex ideas into very short ‘stories’ which the average person can understand and relate to. They do all that while working to intense and immutable deadlines.
Reporting serious science to audiences only interested in the ‘wow’ factor can present particular challenges.
In these videos, some of Australia’s key science and general journalists talk about how they approach the job of reporting science, and they offer advice on how scientists can make their job easier…