Our Introduction to the News Media event will take place in person on Thursday 5 March at the University of Birmingham (Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Music Building, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT) from 13:00 until 17:00 with registration from 12:30-13:00 and a drinks reception until 18:30.
Introduction to the News Media is a seminar devised over 15 years ago by the Science Media Centre aimed at persuading the best scientists of the case for engaging with the media. We do this through a number of things:
• A talk from a press officer from the SMC, demonstrating clear examples of the way great researchers engaging with the media improves the quality of science being reported;
• A talk from an institutional science press officer who explains what support is available to scientists wanting to interact with journalists;
• A rare opportunity to listen to and question a panel of national news science journalists about the way they report science, what they need from you and how best to engage with them to get the most accurate coverage;
• A panel of several scientists who have put their toe in the choppy media waters and lived to tell the tale giving you the good, the bad and the ugly of their experiences.
It’s a hugely informative, entertaining and popular afternoon. And it’s FREE. We’re very grateful to the University of Birmingham for hosting us.
Is it for you?
These free events are designed specifically for scientists with little or no media experience. They are fascinating in themselves, but the greatest benefit will be for scientists who work on issues likely to be in the news but who are either media shy, feel negatively about engaging with journalists or are downright scared that they will get it wrong. We welcome scientists, engineers and medics in academia or industry from any institution (postdoctoral level or professional equivalent and above; senior scientists are particularly welcome).
Register your interest
Anyone wishing to attend should register interest here: Introduction to the News Media 2026 Registration – Fill out form
Places are limited and we’re looking for scientists and engineers at least some way into their research careers, so we don’t generally allocate places to students although we do have a waiting list and will do if there is space.
For any further queries, please email introduction@sciencemediacentre.org.
