“If you think those academics doing media work right now are rubbish, then – as we used to say when I was growing up – come and have a go. Maybe you’ll discover it’s harder than it looks. Or maybe you’ll be great. Whatever, enjoy it. It will be fun.”

Let’s return to Professor Philip Cowley’s academic paper reflecting on his 25 years engaging with the media. If you haven’t yet, do have a read here:

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4371905

https://twitter.com/philipjcowley/status/1632288779611389958

Last week I quoted his reasons why it’s worth engaging with the media. This week some of his tips on how to do it well. He expands on all these points in the paper:

1. Be willing to start small.

2. Make sure your work is accessible.

(“Make sure that you have a free-to-view, easily understandable, summary of your work online.”)

3. Be proactive. Don’t just sit and wait for journalists to come to you.

4. Be responsive.

5. Build up relationships.

6. Don’t worry – it won’t be a re-run of Frost-Nixon.

(“Unless your subject is controversial – or you are being very provocative in how you are presenting it – you are unlikely to have a journalist try to kick lumps out of you.”)

7. Be clear about what you want to say.

8. Don’t underestimate journalists.

9. Always remember that for the most part they’re interested in what you know, not what you think.

“It may not be for every academic, and if you really don’t want to do it, you shouldn’t need to. But a lot of academics, working in most fields in the humanities and social sciences, could usefully up their media game.”

Professor Philip Cowley has written an academic paper reflecting on his 25 years engaging with the media. (Along with a number of others I read an early draft and made a couple of observations.) Now he’s published the finished piece. It’s terrific and I agree with (just about) every word of it:

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4371905

https://twitter.com/philipjcowley/status/1632288779611389958

I’ll quote from the paper over the next couple of weeks but would thoroughly recommend reading the whole thing. For now though, his reasons why it’s worth engaging with the media:

1. Because you should want to disseminate your findings and work as widely as possible.

2. Because it is in your interests to do it.

3. Because you’ll gain access, knowledge and contacts.

4. Because you’ll learn to communicate better.

5. Because it can make you think about your research agenda.

6. Because it produces benefits to the university in terms of publicity.

7. Because it can be fun.

8. Because you might make some money*

* Though as he expands, “this one should definitely be last.”