Communicating science

2-day Workshop outline

This is a sample outline only. We tailor each workshop to meet the needs of clients.

2 presenters will facilitate the workshop, with 3 reporters (one from TV, one from radio and one from print).

Online adaptable

We have adapted this workshop to run online in shorter sessions over several days, please contact us for details.

Objectives

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Understand how to structure and deliver an effective talk to meet both audience needs and your objectives

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Develop some skills and confidence in delivering effective presentations

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Apply principles of message-design to effective presentations

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Understand the media and how it operates

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Develop some skills and confidence in dealing with media interviews

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Apply principles of message design to media management

Preparation

We ask each workshop participant to prepare a short presentation (3 mins) about their work and to bring along one one potential media story idea. We supply participants with details of the venue and any other arrangements.

Evaluation

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Reaction based

We give you a feedback sheet to fill out at the end of workshop. We collate the results (we don’t edit them) and return them to the commissioning organisation. 

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Learning

We assess your learning on an individual basis throughout the workshop and give both oral and written feedback.

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Behavioural

We give you individual feedback as you practise the skills in the workshop. We also provide individual feedback forms.

COMMUNICATING SCIENCE

Program outline

Day 1

Start

Introduction, outline and purpose of workshop

  • The three sides to communication: content, style, visuals
  • The characteristics of a good presentation versus a less successful one

Exercise 1: 3-minute presentation about your work, with feedback

 

Considering the audience

Exercise 2: Audience checklist

 

How to structure a good talk

The 5-box presentation

Exercise 3: Give an introduction/conclusion for a talk… recorded on video and replayed for comment and feedback

Lunch

Dealing with questions: the good, the bad and the ugly

  • Doing it with style
  • Overcoming nerves
  • Checking out the venue

Exercise 4: Style exercise… recorded on video and replayed for comment and feedback

Visual aids – the dos and don’ts

Chairing a talk – some tips

Delivering the goods

Exercise 5: Short talks prepared in groups of 3-4 on selected topics according to 5-box template; one person will chair and one person will present

Feedback

Recap on Day 1

Close

Day 2

Start

Introduction to the media

TV news

TV news journalist – presentation and discussion about what makes TV news stories work

Demo interview with one participant on video

Individual interviews on video while rest of group looks at:

  • packaging a TV news story
  • preparing the ‘grab’

Print media

Print media journalist – presentation and discussion about what major metro newspapers require to make a story work

Lunch

Media releases

Shaping your story

 

Radio

Radio journalist discusses the various formats of radio and what is required from radio to make a story work.

Demonstration interviews of news, program and current affairs interviews

Individual interviews with radio journalist while rest of group looks at:

  • participants’ TV interviews
  • controlling the agenda with radio
  • dealing with more controversial/difficult interviews
  • what to do when the media comes unexpectedly to you

Recap on the 2 days

Evaluation of workshop

Close