1-121 - Sharing Secrets to Improve Science Communication: What Scientists Can Learn from Journalists and Vice Versa

Session Type: Professional Development Session

Integrative Statement

In this workshop, journalists from national and international news outlets share stories of challenges they encountered when writing about the science of childhood and learning and talk about how to improve public dissemination of the implications of new scientific findings. The first third of the session features a moderated discussion with reporters talking about how an article comes to be, how reporters maintain independence from their sources, and where they find sources and story ideas. The second third of the session will feature a mini-workshop on how a hypothetical new study might be handled by different members of the press in different news outlets and news industries, including science journalists vs. education journalists or television reporters vs. newspaper reporters. The final third of the session will open opportunities for scientists to retell moments of success or failure in which they were trying to communicate new information to members of the press, leading to discussion of what new tools or channels of communication would be most useful to both sides.

Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the missions of journalists and scientists, as well as with practical tips for communicating scientific findings to relevant audiences. This session is organized by Lisa Guernsey, a former staff writer for the New York Times and deputy director of the Education Policy Program at New America, in conjunction with Claudia Kalb, a journalist for National Geographic Magazine, the founders of the Learning Sciences Exchange, and several national science and education reporters.

Sub Unit

• Professional Development Track

Session Organizer

• Lisa Guernsey, New America

Presenter

• Claudia Kalb, Learning Sciences Exchange & Independent Journalist, National Geographic Magazine