Science Communication Skills for Press Officers

A free, self-paced online course to teach press officers how to communicate science to journalists and the public.

Introduction

If you work with a scientific organisation and one of your roles is to engage with the media or write any content for public consumption, then the Science Communication Skills for Press Officers free online course is for you. It is a self-directed course, meaning you can log in and learn at your own time.

Why this course?

The course will improve your ability to get the media interested in science and present it to them in a language they understand. Upon successful completion of the course you will get a certificate.

What’s included?

  • 10 short, user-friendly and interactive modules, divided into short, topical lectures. All of these modules are independent and can be taken individually.
  • Practical tasks designed to help you apply media theory to your working practice.
  • Worksheets to support your learning, where appropriate.
  • A certificate upon course completion.

This course is brought to you as part of the Script project, which is made possible by the Robert Bosch Stiftung and implemented by SciDev.Net.

For any queries about the course please email [email protected]


Your Instructor


Dr. Charles Wendo
Dr. Charles Wendo

Training Coordinator, SciDev.Net

Scientist I Journalist I Science Journalist

Dr Charles Wendo is a science journalist, veterinary doctor and media trainer. He holds a Master of Arts in Journalism and Communication degree, a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication, and a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree, all from Makerere University, Uganda.


Course Curriculum


  Introduction to the "Science Communication Skills for Press Officers" course
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  The Basics of Scientific Research
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  What makes news in science
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  Spotting the news in a scientific paper
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  How to interpret research findings
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  How to find the story in a technical report
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  How to simplify science without losing its meaning
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  How to simplify numbers and statistics
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  Making science Interesting to journalists
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  How to find and work with science journalists
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  Ethical issues in communicating research findings
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.

Get started now!