For BES members

Engaging with the media is one of the most effective ways to reach an audience of thousands or even millions. Many people get their information about science from newspapers, news sites, TV and radio programmes, and trust those sources.

Knowing how to get and use media coverage can be important for communicating your research to people outside the scientific community.

Pair of wild dog pups in Zimbabwe - Rosemary Groom, Zoological Society of London

 

Media coverage can raise your academic profile (and that of your institution). Regularly talking to journalists is also an excellent way to develop communication skills that can be applied to other areas of your work, from grant writing to public speaking.

Do you have a story to tell?

The BES Press Office can help tell your story through traditional and digital media. Feel free to get in touch if you need advice on how to publicise your work or are interested in media training.

  • Are you about to publish some interesting or unexpected results?
  • Have you reached a major milestone in your project?
  • Is your fieldwork taking you to a remote location such as the Antarctic?
  • Are you looking to recruit citizen scientists for your study?
  • Are you using novel methods or technologies such as specialist cameras or apps to collect data?
  • Are you organising a public event?

Are you an expert in your field?

Expert comments add credibility to a media report and can bring a story to life. The BES Press Office often receives requests from journalists at UK national, international and specialist outlets who are looking for experts to comment on stories in the news, including ecological topics such as the conservation of particular species and habitats, biological invasions, human-wildlife conflicts, agriculture and climate change.

You may not consider yourself the best expert on a topic, but to the general public, your knowledge and experience working in a certain area makes you an expert. The more contested the science, the more important it is for the public to hear from qualified experts. Please join our expertise database* if you are prepared to act as a spokesperson in your field and would like to be contacted for media opportunities.

*To join the database you must login to the members area of our website.