1. Project briefing
November 2010

2. RELATE is fully funded under the European Commission's
Research programme 'Science in Society' (FP7–SIS).
This is a four-way process:

To promote EU research

While helping the general public to understand cutting-
edge research

To train journalists

While helping scientists learn how to interact with the
media...
PROJECT DESCRIPTION

3. PARTNERS
EJC, the European Journalism Centre, The Netherlands, is an
independent, international, non-profit institute dedicated to the
highest standards in journalism.
ENEA is an Italian public research body operating in the fields of
energy, the environment and new technologies.
EPFL is one of the two Ecoles Polytechniques Fédérales in
Switzerland.
TÜBITAK is the Turkish governmental agency for science research
and development.
COORDINATOR:
MINERVA Consulting & Communication, Belgian PR Agency
specialised in European research related projects.
PARTNERS:

4. BACKGROUND: WHY ARE WE HERE?

In general, people are either afraid or don't care
about research because they don't understand it

Scientists often speak in technical jargon, which
needs 'translating'

Journalists tend to over-simplify complex research,
widening the gap in understanding

5. MEDIA: CHEERLEADERS OR WATCHDOGS?
Science and journalism are not alien cultures...
They are built on the same foundation...that
conclusions require evidence; that the evidence
should be open to everyone; and that everything
is subject to question... And whether it's
directed towards an experiment or a breaking
news story, each can appreciate the other's
critical eye.
Nature Magazine
June 2009

6. TASKS

Write a daily blog in English on the RELATE project website –
WIKI platform

Produce an article or audio-visual production in your own
language based on your study tour and upload it to the platform

Look for editors willing to publish your article or material

RELATE partners will support you but this is a real challenge for you
to look for an editor by yourself and to start your career with unique
material. Few people have the chance to go inside a lab, interview and
take pictures, videos.

7. WHAT ARE WE NOT HERE TO DO?

Act as public relations officers: we're not here to
write press releases.

Why? For our own CREDIBILITY

Project = REsearch LAbs for TEaching Journalists

Editors won't publish PR.

8. ALSO REMEMBER...

We are not here as undercover journalists

Or to write sensationalist articles

Please note which briefings are off-the-record

Respect the lab rules and journalism ethics
(included in the briefing already sent to you)

Learn best practice and worst practice...

9. SEE WWW.BADSCIENCE.NET

10. ULTIMATELY, WE'RE HERE TO...

'Translate' the complex language of science

Explore all sides of the issue: the commercial
benefits as well as the social impacts

Explore the personal angle: Who benefits? How do
the researchers work? What drives them?

Get people talking through intellectual curiosity or
individual empathy

11. AWARD
An award will be given to the most outstanding publication
(audiovisual or paper based publication): HD Handycam
The most successful students will participate in the final project
meeting in Brussels in January 2011.
The final workshop in Brussels with project partners,
representatives from media and the research labs, a group of the
best RELATE students and EC officials, sector experts
With the aim to:

examine the results achieved and to weigh up the feasibility of
similar projects in the future.

provide recommendations based on feedback from students and
researchers (experiences, difficulties, opinions, etc.).

pave the way to future projects, informing students and
researchers, the project management team and European
Commission.

12. RELATE SUMMARY PRESENTATION

13. Hinano Spreafico
PROJECT COORDINATOR
Skype user: hinano.spreafico
Minerva C & C: www.minerva-communication.eu
hinano@minerva-communication.eu
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
Howard Hudson
Editor
hudson@ejc.net
howardrhudson@gmail.com
European journalism Centre: www.ejc.net