Science Communicators and the Media

Research Topic 6: Working with science communicators and the media

Although some significant policy decisions on ethical issues such as hybrid embryos have been achieved through using dialogue, the process of dialogue itself is not considered to be newsworthy by the media.  This is particularly problematic, as many dialogue activities tend to rely upon the media for recruiting and involving citizens. This research aims to identify ways of engaging (and involving) traditional and non-traditional mass media in engagement activities, enabling large audiences to be reached. It will do this by:

• developing an understanding of the media’s perceptions of public engagement, the barriers to involving them and opportunities offered by new media
• developing a ‘proposition’ for the media that explains dialogue in terms they can relate to, identifies the potential areas of interest for them and addresses as many of their concerns and barriers as possible 
• exploring the potential of new media to disseminate messages about public dialogue
• developing practical guidance for engagement practitioners and Public Relations professionals involved in engagement activities.

Melanie Smallman (one of the ERC Dialogue and Engagement Specialists) is leading this research