A Scientist's Guide To Talking With The Media: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists [Paperback]

Richard Hayes (Author), Daniel Grossman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 16, 2006

"This book is essential medicine for the pandemic of scientific illiteracy. The architects of the explosive growth of science-based technology must communicate as never before and there is now a lucid guide." --Leon Lederman, 1988 Nobel Prize in Physics "This is an invaluable guide for scientists seeking to learn how to better communicate with--and through--the media. The book gives the kind of insight into new operations that will allow researchers to better understand the process of and to feel more comfortable talking with reporters. And the timing is just right--now more than ever we need an improved public understanding of science and the way it affects our lives." --Deborah Blum, 1992 Pulitzer-Prize winner for beat reporting on primate research. In this book, Richard Hayes and Daniel Grossman draw on their expertise in public relations and journalism to empower researchers in a variety of fields to spread their message on their own terms. The authors provide tips on how to translate abstract concepts into concrete metaphors, craft soundbites, and prepare for interviews. For those looking for a higher profile, the authors explain how to become a reporter's trusted source--the first card in the Rolodex--on controversial issues. A must-read for all scientists, this book shows how it IS possible for the discoveries that hibernate in lecture halls and academic journals to reach a broader audience in a way that is accurate and effective. Richard Hayes is media director of the Union of Concerned Scientists, an independent nonprofit alliance of more than 10,000 scientists and citizens. He lives in Arlington, Virginia. Daniel Grossman is a science journalist, radio and web producer, and educator who has covered the science beat for more than eighteen years. He lives in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is an invaluable guide for scientists seeking to learn how to better communicate with-and through-the media. The book gives the kind of insight into news operations that will allow researchers to better understand the process and to feel more comfortable talking with reporters. And the timing is just right-now more than ever we need an improved public understanding of science and the way it affects our lives.

(Deborah Blum 1992 Pulitzer-Prize winner for beat reporting on primate research ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Richard Hayes is media director of the Union of Concerned Scientists, an independent nonprofit alliance of more than 100,000 citizens and scientists. He lives in Arlington, Virginia. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 222 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press; 1 edition (August 16, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813538580
• ISBN-13: 978-0813538587
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #657,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for scientists trying to get the word out, November 12, 2007

By 

J. A. Chavarria (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Scientist's Guide To Talking With The Media: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists (Paperback)

In the past four years I have been contacted many times to give interviews regarding earthquakes in Southern California. I wish I have had this book when I started!!!

This book should be read by any scientist that wants to transmit his ideas more clearly to a non-scientific audience.
It is very straightforward, with many hints on how to do well in interviews or press releases.
The book has many examples of actual interviews that help you understand what works best when you have to convey a message in a very brief amount of time.
It helps you tremendously to understand how the media works and what it expects from the scientist.

Even if you are not directly dealing with a news agengy, this book is very good because it shows you how you can organize your ideas in a way that you could transmit them to people not working on your field.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This should be required reading, April 2, 2008

By 

Luis J. Villanueva Rivera (Lafayette, IN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Scientist's Guide To Talking With The Media: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists (Paperback)

Scientist have a responsibility to inform the public, otherwise we risk to let science degrade to whatever politicians and Hollywood want to portray. This book will help any scientist to deal with the press in a practical way: get to know some important jargon, know how media works and what they expect from a scientist.
The book also includes several examples of scientific discoveries that were completely misunderstood by the media with an analysis of what went wrong. Just keeping this in mind will keep this sort of situations to a minimum.
I've dealt with the press on a few occasions, I wish I had read this book before that. I feel I'm more prepared for the next time. Prepare yourself and don't leave science education to movies.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars useful in more ways than you might think, November 28, 2007

By 

Michael J. Wise (Lewisburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Scientist's Guide To Talking With The Media: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists (Paperback)

Outside of journal articles and student papers, my reading list is extremely limited. A Scientist's Guide to Talking with the Media is not the sort of book that is likely to make that list. Nevertheless, having received several recommendations from colleagues, and forced into convalescence while recovering from surgery, I picked up a copy of the book and was pleasantly surprised. The writing was crisp and entertaining, and still the book was relatively fluff-free. Though I generally don't think the public would be interested in my rather esoteric research, this book made me realize that I do have a lot to offer on many topics that are covered by the press, particularly relating to environmental issues and evolution. In fact, I finished the book inspired to be less reclusive and I now relish the opportunity to serve as a source to the media, even if it is something as minor as scientific advisor to the local Woolly Worm Festival.

Beyond communicating with the media, this book offers practical advice on summarizing one's research work for non-technical audiences. That skill comes up more and more frequently in grant writing, as organizations such as the NSF require you to explain the significance or your proposed work to a general audience (i.e., broad significance statements). Some journals also ask that you write "press releases" to accompany your article submission. I will definitely be referring to this book repeatedly for these purposes, even if I chicken out regarding reaching out to the media. In short, this is a wonderfully written, entertaining, and to-the-point book that I think just about any scientist would be the better for reading.