Tagged on to this message you will find an extract from earlier discussion,
in which someone asked what the Science Media Centre does.

I had suggested that we should point people at them if they have general
questions about scientific expertise. Someone responded that the SMC doesn't
really deal with mere mortals, but prefers to work with Big Media.

The SMC has just published its annual review - well, I have just found it.

http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/publications/index.php?&showArticle=
32

This has a section on "Media Enquiries". I hope Fiona does not mind if I
quote that section as it throws light on that earlier discussion and
provides some interesting insights:

"...the Science Media Centre also
responds to daily enquiries from journalists
looking for experts to interview and comment
on a wide variety of issues. These enquiries
range from journalists wanting an expert to
appear on Newsnight, to needing someone to
explain a complex scientific or engineering
principle as background to a story. They also
involve providing the media with experts who
can debunk the myths around a particular
issue, preventing potential 'scare stories'.

"In 2009, the Centre received over 750 separate
enquiries, and was able to help journalists with
their requests in over 97% of cases. The
majority of these were speculative enquiries,
although approximately 10% resulted directly
from SMC activity. Half of all enquiries came
from broadcast outlets such as the BBC, ITV,
Channel 4 and Sky. In particular, one third of
all requests came from various sections of
the BBC, including television, radio and
online news. The UK national newspapers
also accounted for a third of enquiries
received by the SMC, with the Daily Telegraph,
Guardian, Times and Daily Mail using the
Centre most often."

It doesn't quite cover gormless researchers fishing around for ways to sell
their pitch to a broadcaster, but they are polite folks at the SMC, so I
doubt if they would shout at these chancers.

MK





-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Kenward [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: 28 October 2010 11:40
To: 'psci-com: on public engagement with science'
Subject: RE: [PSCI-COM] Spoof: Experiments for science TV series about Human
Body

Unless the Science Media Centre has changed its remit, dealing with
"scientifically illiterate" journalists is certainly in its domain.

Look at its front page and you will read that among the three major things
on offer it urges you to call them if you "need a background briefing on a
scientific topic".

I have my complaints about the SMC's excessive pandering to the "Fleet
Street" mob, but as much as anything that is down to "demand side"
pressures. Ask them for help with your TV ideas and see what they can do for
you.

I should also have added AlphaGalileo, which has similar, perhaps even
stronger, links with the broader scientific community. (Disclaimer, I am
peripherally attached to AlphaGalileo, and have been an informal "advisor",
or nitpicker, since day one.)

MK




-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jonathan Sanderson
Sent: 28 October 2010 09:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Spoof: Experiments for science TV series about Human
Body

On 27 Oct 2010, at 19:30, Michael Kenward wrote:

> Anyone else who gets one of these annoying requests in future might like
to 'onpass them' to the Science Media Centre. That is why it is there.

OK, daft question from me, then: *is* that the role of the Science Media
Centre? I thought it was focussed on news media and journalists, rather than
assisting documentary or popular factual projects?

Certainly, the closest I ever got to using its services during my stint in
broadcast was crashing its Christmas party one year. Was I denying myself a
valuable resource?


[as for the cause of this thread; I've been that naive researcher, and I've
been the series producer banging his head on the table when my team fails to
do its homework and makes the production look foolish. I've also been the
guy called by the TV company looking for a demo, and subsequently screwed by
them. So I've sympathy on all sides.

I didn't think Peter's initial post was near as bad as some we've seen. I'll
confess to having been amused by Lazy Researcher's retort, but it's a bit
hard on Peter to be the focus of such scorn, and it doesn't foster the sort
of reputation I'd like the list to have. I'm glad there were some helpful
replies.

So no, I didn't write the satire. Kind of wish I had, though I suspect I
wouldn't have posted it.]

-- 
Jonathan Sanderson
"If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter" (Pascal)

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