Update

The September workshop is now full. If you would like to register your interest for future workshops, running in November and December 2019, please kate.daniell@port.ac.uk.

The workshop

Stephen Harris, Science and Commissioning Editor from The Conversation, will be visiting the University on Tuesday 10 September to deliver a workshop about writing for The Conversation and we would like to encourage researchers from PhD level up to Professor and everything in between to sign up to attend.

What is The Conversation?

The Conversation combines the rigour of academic analysis with the journalistic approach of professional editors to provide readers with a better understanding of current affairs, the complex issues the world faces and latest research in short, timely, informative articles for the general public. Globally it has 107.5 million readers, including 10 million monthly readers of UK content.

Over the past year, 55 academics from the University have written 60 articles, which were read over 1.2 million times, generating 440 comments. Major publishers such as The Independent (UK), Channel News Asia, World Economic Forum, Newsweek and Business Insider republished these articles.

Why you should write for The Conversation

By writing for The Conversation you make yourself more visible to the world beyond the circle of academic peers in your field. This could lead to further contact from the media for follow-up interviews or articles, or from academics interested in your work seeking collaboration. A wider awareness of your name and work can lead to more interesting opportunities.

The Conversation deliver media training for academics to help them better understand how to communicate, recognise the news value of their research and expertise, and to give them the confidence to pitch their ideas for a public audience. Experienced editors visit the University and present the basics of how the Conversation works, how to get involved and the benefits of writing for a public audience. Longer sessions are also offered with interactive workshops to help editors consider the news potential of their expertise and how to write a quality story pitch.

Stephen Harris, Science and Commissioning Editor from The Conversation, will be visiting the University on Tuesday 10 September to deliver a workshop about writing for The Conversation.

The sessions for University of Portsmouth staff will take place from 10am to 12 noon and from 1 to 3pm in room 1.67 in the Portland building.

During the sessions, Stephen will talk about The Conversation, the benefits for academics and how to effectively engage with editors and writing articles. There will also be an opportunity to pitch your article ideas to them.

Please let Glenn Harris, Senior Media Manager (Research Themes) know if you would like to attend and what time and he will add you to the event – glenn.harris@port.ac.uk