News Archive

A free training opportunity from SciLine, based at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), will be held Wednesday, 21 August 2024, 2–3 pm ET. "Understanding the Media: A Starter Guide for Scientists" is a free, one-hour course—designed specifically for media-curious scientists with little or no media experience—that teaches the basics scientists need to know as they consider dipping their toes or diving deeper into media engagement. We provide an overview of the US news landscape, including the different types of media outlets and reporters a scientist might encounter (and what each is looking for), professional similarities and differences between journalists and scientists, and the risks and benefits of participating in interviews.

The course is led by PhD neuroscientist Tori Espensen, with participation by freelance science journalist Elena Renken. Attendees will learn what makes a science story newsworthy, how to become more "findable" by journalists, and key concepts and etiquette norms to know when speaking to a reporter.

For more information and to register, go to the SciLine AAAS website.