Thanks to a META Public Interest Journalism grant from the Walkley Foundation, the AusSMC has been able to work with five news rooms on collaborative projects in 2023-24. Each newsroom is being matched with a range of experts from around the country who have deep expertise in the topic being explored.
“The unique thing about these collaborative journalism projects is that scientists are actively involved in the creation of content rather than just being an angle in a story,” said AusSMC CEO Dr Susannah Eliott.
“Many topics are complex and don’t lend themselves well to the daily news cycle. Issues such as climate change and energy are nuanced and benefit from in-depth coverage involving both journalists and researchers,” she said.
Experts can help guide journalists to ensure they highlight the most important aspects of an issue and provide them with the latest data for infographics etc. As an added benefit, they have the opportunity to work with a newsroom on an issue close to their heart and learn how the media works.
Based on a pilot series conducted in 2021 with support from the Judith Nielson Institute, the current series of projects cover carbon farming, endometriosis, sustainable cities, vaping and the future of fertility.
For further information, contact us.
Contact: Susannah Eliott
Phone: Ph: 08 7120 8666
Email: info@smc.org.au