How do I write an attention-grabbing headline? What are some tips to avoid “hyping” a scientific study? Why does EurekAlert! have a “90-day rule”? How do I make sure my researcher nails her Reddit AMA? Is it worth promoting a preprint paper if it hasn’t been peer reviewed yet?
These are just a few questions that you, as public information officers (a.k.a. PIOs), probably find familiar. You may even have some good answers, but no one place that covers the many facets of being a PIO working in science communication. That’s where we come in with EurekAlert!’s #SciComm Blog!
The EurekAlert! #SciComm Blog – what is it and why did we start it?
The initial idea to start a blog came from wanting to improve and increase engagement with the large and diverse PIO community that uses EurekAlert!. That motivation, along with a desire to create a repository for articles that go in-depth about EurekAlert! policies and features, led us to plan our first-ever foray into blogging. Now, with the EurekAlert! #SciComm Blog, we’ve created a space where we can share news and tips about EurekAlert!, and also to raise important issues for the wider science communication community by drawing on the experience of PIOs directly. Find out how to contribute by pitching a blog post!
In conjunction with this blog, we’ve set up a EurekAlert! PIO Forum on Trellis. The forum is a dedicated “safe space” for PIOs to network, share advice, ask questions, and learn from each other. The EurekAlert! PIO Forum is also where you can continue the conversation about any of the articles posted on the #SciComm Blog. By that same token, discussions in the PIO Forum will inspire blog posts here. Please note, you must be a EurekAlert! PIO-registrant to receive an invitation to join the PIO Forum (PIO registration is free).
As always, we are open to your feedback. Send comments, concerns, or questions by email to pio@eurekalert.org.