Section outline

  • Introduction

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    in-person

    Ecotekne University Campus, Via Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 LE

    Building A, Seminar room, Ground floor

    Classroom location

    (hold down CTRL+left mouse button and click the Google Maps link)

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/R47PY17cBwZA4fXV9

    June 23th-26th, 2025

    25(in-person)

      Nico Pitrelli (SISSA), Donato Ramani (SISSA)

    This training course is specifically designed for researchers who wish to better understand the media world and acquire practical tools to effectively communicate their research to the public. While not aiming to turn researchers into professional journalists, the course will provide a solid grounding in the specifics of science journalism, helping to demystify the processes by which science is turned into news. During the course, we will explore basic skills related to the structure, language and style of different forms of science journalism. We will look at how to identify and pitch science news, a valuable skill also for researchers who want to raise awareness among the public, public information officers and funders of the importance of their work. We will discuss the main challenges and difficulties facing science journalism today, offering a privileged perspective on the contemporary media landscape.

  • Training Objectives

    1. Improving the communication of one's research: 

    knowing the language and logic of scientific journalism allows researchers to present their work in a more accessible and engaging way to awider audience.

    2. Manage interactions with the media:

    being aware of how science journalists work can help researchers interact more effectively with them, ensuring an accurate and contextualised representation of their research.

    3. Understanding public perception of science:

    becoming familiar with science journalism allows researchers to have a clearer view of how science is perceived and understood by the public, contributing to more informed and responsible communication.

  • Training Modules

    1. Introduction to Science Communication
    Definition and purpose of science communication: Exploration of the different purposes (to inform, to educate, to persuade, to involve) and target audiences [not present in sources].
    Overview of different approaches and formats: From science journalism to institutional communication, from social media outreach to public engagement [not present in the sources, but logically consequent to the overview idea].
    The role of researchers in science communication: Motivations, opportunities and responsibilities for scientists wishing to communicate their work.

    2. Science Journalism: Fundamentals and New Trends
    Professional identity and skills of the science journalist: What it takes today to become a professional science journalist.
    Specific features of science journalism: Distinctions from other forms of journalism.
    Structure, language and style of different forms of science journalism: Articles, interviews, reports, investigations.
    Writing about science: Effective writing techniques for a non-specialist audience.
    The main challenges and difficulties of science journalism today: disinformation, sensationalism, conflicts of interest.

    3. Finding and Proposing Science News
    How to ‘see’ a science news story: Identifying topics of journalistic interest within scientific research.
    Assessing the ‘newsworthiness’ of a scientific discovery: Criteria of relevance, impact, novelty and public interest.
    The different sources of scientific news: From scientific publications to press releases, from conferences to social media.
    Pitching techniques: How to effectively present a scientific article idea to an editorial team.

    4. Interacting with the Media
    Preparing for and facing an interview with a science journalist.
    Understanding the work of the scientific journalist: The timing, needs and logic of a newsroom.

  • Day 1

  • Day 2

  • Day 3

  • Day 4