Rapid Reactions
When a story is breaking that has a science angle, the AusSMC will issue a ‘Rapid Reaction’ – a series of unedited quotes from experts in the relevant area who are up to date on the story and willing to talk. This reaction to a breaking story can be invaluable as a source of direct quotes, as a guage of expert opinion and background information or as a source of talent for interview. Round-ups are issued as soon as possible after a story breaks.Register here to recieve rapid reactions
Round-ups
Scientific and medical journals are a regular source of scientific news, but making sense of them can be a nightmare. Our ‘Round-up’ service provides journalists with context and independent expert comment to help decipher the research. This is all done while the story is still under embargo so that the comments and opinions of experts can be incorportaed into stories as they are being written.Register here to recieve round-ups
Heads-up/Heads-up extra
Heads-up is a popular email service issued each Tuesday and Friday and available through a password protected area on this website. It alerts journalists to what the AusSMC considers the most newsworthy events, new research, reports and related material being published in scientific journals around the world that week. Other information such as upcoming conferences, government reports and other relevant events is often included. Register here to recieve heads-up
Find an Expert
Need help getting your head around a complex issue or looking for an expert to quote in your story? The AusSMC has 3,000 experts on file who cover every topic from alcohol addiction to zoology and takes up to 100 media enquiries a week from journalists. Our media hotline is staffed from 9am-6pm Australian Eastern Time and the centre runs an on call out of hours service. Contact the AusSMC to find an expert.
Getting your head around….
The AusSMC’s “Getting your head around…” series of interactive online sessions which provide journalists with up to date information on some of the most topical issues in the current news agenda. These online sessions are not intended to generate coverage (although many do) but instead are intended to help journalists separate out fact from opinion and move beyond the ‘he said - she said’ to really get your head around the issues.
Media Briefings
The AusSMC operates two types of media briefings, ‘News Briefings’ where new research or data is being released, and ‘Background Briefings’ where experts discuss an issue which is in the news or an issue the AusSMC considers newsworthy. Our briefings are a great way to talk directly to a panel of experts and give you access to accurate, evidence based information about controversial subjects. We want reporters located anywhere in Australia to hear what scientists have to say at AusSMC national media briefings. That’s why all our media briefings are now streamed online so that journalists not able to attend the briefing can still follow the event and ask questions from their desk. Briefings can take the form of physical events or may be run purely online.
Accessing online briefings
When you log in to an online briefing, you will be able to see the PowerPoint slides on your screen and listen to the discussion via audio streaming.
It is recommended that you start the online event a few minutes before it is due to start using links provided by email or on this website, but you can also join the briefing at anytime while it is in progress.
ASKING QUESTIONS
If you wish to ask a question during question time, simply type your question and your affiliation into the Q&A box on your portal screen.
To visit our online portal, click here>>
System requirements:
You will need a broadband connection and have headphones or audio speakers turned on to hear the streaming audio. Allow approx 1 min for your computer to be configured correctly to our portal, allow ACTIVEX install if prompted
Radio stations wanting to record the briefing audio via a phone line instead, should contact the AusSMC for further details on how to do this.
Technical Difficulties:
If you are having any difficulties logging into the briefing please:
Call WebEx support on 1800 129 278 for any technical assistance with online briefings
Call the AusSMC on 08 7120 8666 for any other queries.