The Communication Brief
A monthly digest on communication strategy and practice
We can’t have everything for free
The closure of Hakai Magazine raises important questions about the sustainability of science journalism and what it means for science communication.
Should scientists be activists?
Can climate and ocean scientists become advocates without compromising their credibility? A look at the ongoing debate around scientists and activism.
Should fiction be scientifically accurate?
When a Netflix shark film sparked outrage from marine scientists, it raised a bigger question: should fiction have to be scientifically accurate?
Scientist biographies can help build trust
Short scientist biographies can help build trust in science, but only if they show why the scientists do what they do.
Is science journalism in the USA a bit…racist?
Journalists reporting for USA-based publications are less likely to include minority-ethnic author names in their science reporting.
Video abstracts and plain-language summaries may be worth it
Creating video abstracts and plain language abstracts is extra work, but they can help boost comprehension, perceived understanding, and enjoyment.
Emotions, not emotion for climate messaging
Want to drive some support for climate policy? You might want to get your audience a little emotional.
Do polite, informative social media conversations influence policy support?
Being polite and making well-reasoned arguments might help people feel more informed, but it won’t necessarily change their support for policies
Hey media - links to research, please
When covering research, sometimes the media will provide a link to the original research, sometimes they don’t. Why is that?