Helping Researchers Communicate About Their Work

This week, I attended an excellent on-campus workshop geared toward helping researchers communicate about their work. Terry Devitt, the presenter, shared these tips for researchers to employ when contacted by the media:

• Use analogies and metaphors
• Drop the jargon
• Use numbers
• Provide context
• Use everyday examples
• Provide supporting materials (links, photos, reports, etc.)
• Be responsive (deadlines are quick!)
• Ask questions
• Be careful what you say
• Never go “off record”

To this list, I would also add:

• Keep your communications colleagues updated (especially about research progress and media inquiries!)