BBSRC & AHDB Media & Communication Workshop

Date: / Tuesday 28th November 2017
Time: / 10:00 – 17:00
Venue: / AHDB, Stoneleigh Park, CV8 2TL
09:30 / Arrival and registration
10:00 / Introduction (AHDB)
10:10 / Know your audience - John Bates (Senior Media & PR Manager, AHDB)
10:30 / How the media works - John Bates (AHDB) & Jess Buss (Freelance journalist)
11:00 / Comfort break
11:15 / Proactive and reactive communication – Jess Buss
11:45 / Using digital media – tbc (Digital Manager, AHDB)
12:05 / Effective communication – John Bates
12:30 / Lunch & networking
13:30 / Breakout sessions
16:00 / Breakout session feedback and discussion
17:00 / Finish

Breakout sessions

Please select your top two preferences from the breakout session below. We will endeavour to accommodate your first choice. The content will be tailored to participant’s interests.

Breakout session 1: Writing about science (Maximum 10 delegates)

Target audience: Early career researchers. This breakout session will equip you with practical tools for effective writing.

Time / Topic / Deliverer
13:30 – 14:15 / Practical toolkit for effective media writing
·  Difference between writing research & press articles
·  The basic terminology used by the press
·  Understanding the steps in the process
·  Understanding styles and style sheets
·  Meeting the brief / Jess Buss
14:15 – 15:45 / Practical session
·  Deconstruct and distil your message
·  Learn to use tables, graphs, informatics & images to bring out key messages
·  Critique press articles
·  Write an introduction to an article
15:45 – 16:00 / Discussion

Breakout session: The interview (Maximum 6 delegates)

Target audience: Experienced and senior researchers. Try out your communication skills in this practical participative session.

Time / Topic / Deliverer
13:30 – 14:15 / Practical toolkit for effective media interviews
·  Handling media calls
·  How to set the agenda
·  How to remain in control
·  How to be engaging
·  How to convey key messages as strongly as possible / John Bates
14:15 – 15:45 / Practical session – mock interview
·  Participants signed up to this session, would come prepared with a topic
·  Time to reflect on learnings
·  5 minute mock TV interview
·  Group feedback
15:45 – 16:00 / Discussion

Breakout session 3: Putting research into practice (Maximum 10 delegates)

Target audience: Everyone.

Time / Topic / Deliverer
13:30 – 14:15 / Practical toolkit for effective knowledge transfer
·  How to develop products and resources from research findings
·  Value of demonstration and focus farms
·  Deconstruct and distil your message
·  how to be engaging
·  how to convey key messages as strongly as possible
·  Learn to use tables, graphs, informatics & images to bring out key messages / AHDB
14:15 – 15:45 / Practical session
·  Group challenge
·  Agree a key communication messages from a recent research study/topic
·  Why is it relevant to your stakeholders?
·  Create a dissemination plan to effectively transfer your message to your stakeholders
·  How will you measure the uptake & impact of your message
·  Present your ideas & concepts to the larger group
·  Group feedback
15:45 – 16:00 / Discussion