{"id":183,"date":"2020-09-03T08:05:43","date_gmt":"2020-09-03T08:05:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thecommsdoctor.com.au\/stories\/?p=183"},"modified":"2020-09-03T08:05:43","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T08:05:43","slug":"researchers-should-have-opinions-and-let-others-know-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecommsdoctor.com.au\/stories\/researchers-should-have-opinions-and-let-others-know-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Researchers should have opinions \u2013 and let others know them"},"content":{"rendered":"

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2020 is proving to be a busy year for epidemiologists.<\/p>\n

In the current global pandemic, media are daily seeking the wisdom and expertise of these scientific research specialists to help interpret data about vaccines, and the public health implications of COVID-19 testing and transmission trends.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a timely reminder that research can and does play a valuable role in everyday life.<\/p>\n

Yet, after decades of working alongside researchers, I\u2019ve noticed that many are reluctant to step into the world of media and current affairs, viewing it as hostile or banal. Some are scared that media will sensationalise, \u2018dumb down\u2019 or misinterpret research findings.<\/p>\n

The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the value and importance of unpacking research via media<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Many researchers have stepped up their professional communication to express their opinions, within their areas of expertise, on various aspects of the pandemic and the recovery. Programs like the ABC\u2019s \u2018Coronacast<\/em>\u2019<\/a> offer daily guidance from medical scientists and epidemiologists who present reasonable, considered opinions backed by sound evidence.<\/p>\n

Australian-based websites such as The Conversation<\/a> and Open Forum<\/a> have provided important avenues for researchers to express their opinions to a wide audience, outside of mainstream broadcast media, in a relatively unfiltered, un-sensationalised format. This format has increased trust for both authors and audiences in the stories published.<\/p>\n

Being widely available online, these websites have helped researchers who address current affairs to gain local, national and international prominence through their thoughtful, credible insights.<\/p>\n

Tips to help write opinion articles<\/strong><\/p>\n

Timing is everything!<\/p>\n

Readers expect news websites to provide timely responses to current public issues: and the editors of these websites in turn expect their authors to be ready to meet their deadlines. This places an onus on researchers to be prepared to commit time and effort into writing these stories. If not, the editors are not interested.<\/p>\n

While you can\u2019t plan individual opinion pieces in advance \u2013 that is the unpredictability of current affairs \u2013 researchers can prepare themselves and their ideas beforehand.<\/p>\n

Referencing is important for credible science communication: without it, \u2018verified\u2019 facts can be \u2018manufactured\u2019 to support particular opinions, and so urban myths become \u2018fact\u2019. To illustrate their credibility, researchers publishing in The Conversation<\/a> are required to present evidence to support their contentions, by providing links to relevant academic papers and reputable media items to support their claims.<\/p>\n

Here are some tips to help you prepare for science communication opportunities, especially with more mainstream media:<\/p>\n