scholarly journals In the space between: public information officers in science

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 474-475
Author(s):  
Bethann Garramon Merkle ◽  
Marty Downs ◽  
Annaliese Hettinger
Keyword(s):  
Public Information ◽  
Public Information Officers

Universities

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Earle Holland
Keyword(s):  
Department Chair ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Science Writing ◽  
State University ◽  
The Public ◽  
Science Writer ◽  
Public Information Officers ◽  
The One ◽  
University Science

Science writing at a university has to be one of the world's great jobs. If the institution is serious about its research, you're a kid in a candy store. In my case, at Ohio State University, with more than 3,500 faculty, the question is what to write about first—not where to look for stories. Big universities are that way, but the same rules apply for smaller places that are intent on doing great research. Let's begin with the basics. While public information officers at universities face a buffet of varying tasks—from covering boards of trustees' meetings to athletic scandals to student riots—the role of the science PIO is more focused: Concentrate on university research; explain what is new and why it is important to the public. Stated that way, the job seems simple, but science writers at a university may have to jump from astronomy to immunology to psychology to anthropology all in the same week. That represents a lot of intellectual gear shifting; but remember, the rules about reporting on research generally stay the same from field to field. What is the news? Why is it important? What is the context for the research? That is, what are the questions that drive it? Why should the readers care? And last, do the findings point us somewhere new? The only things that change from story to story are the researchers' language and the culture specific to their fields. Nearly every time I give a talk on university science writing—and there have been dozens—someone asks the classic question: How do you find your stories? The glib answer is “Everywhere;” but in truth, that's pretty accurate. Some people envision situations where top researchers have a “eureka” moment and then immediately get on the phone to the campus science writer to get the word out. Or perhaps the researcher's department chair or dean, ever attuned to their colleagues' work, is the one to pass along such news. I wish that were so; but sadly, it's more likely that researcher, department chair, or dean will never think about calling a writer until long after everything else is done.

Coverage of Team Science by Public Information Officers: Content Analysis of Press Releases about the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Centers

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-159
Author(s):  
Marita Graube ◽  
Fiona Clark ◽  
Deborah L. Illman
Keyword(s):  
National Science Foundation ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Funding Agency ◽  
Press Releases ◽  
Technology Centers ◽  
Public Information Officers ◽  
Institutional Cooperation ◽  
National Science ◽  
Diversity Enhancement

This study examines the content of press releases from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Science and Technology Centers (STCs) to determine how public information officers (PIOs) presented the outcomes of centers to journalists and the public. A total of 68 press releases were analyzed for type of news covered, visibility of centers and their funding agency, extent of inter-institutional cooperation in the issuance of releases, and players covered. Three-quarters of STC releases mentioned the center, but less than half mentioned the NSF STC program and one-quarter didn't mention the center name at all. PIOs covering the STCs mainly issued research-oriented press releases accredited to their own institution. There was a low level of inter-institutional cooperation, with 13% of press releases jointly issued. Compared to research results and institutional news, which together accounted for 82% of the news events, broader activities such as knowledge transfer, diversity enhancement, and education were much less visible.

Measuring The Overall Satisfaction of Filipino Journalists on Public Information Officers

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 168-185
Author(s):  
Coren Dianne Paraon Martin ◽  
◽  
Felipe II Francisco Salvosa ◽  
Christine Aura Gracilla Exevea ◽  
Pauline Corsame Tome ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Information ◽  
Public Information Officers

scholarly journals The Effects of Community Size, Control Over Agenda, and Contextual Variables on Zika Virus Preparation of Public Information Officers at Local Public Health Departments

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Avery
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Size Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Community Size ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Departments ◽  
Public Information Officers ◽  
Local Public Health Departments

As Zika emerged as a major global health threat, public information officers (PIOs) at local public health departments across the United States prepared for outbreaks of the virus amid great uncertainty. Using the crisis and risk emergency communication (CERC) model to inform this study, PIOs (n = 226) at public health departments were surveyed to assess how community size, perceived control over health agenda, and other considerations such as resources and federal influences affected their satisfaction with Zika preparedness in their departments. These contextual, indirect factors may moderate planning efforts for Zika and other health emergencies and thus should be considered in crisis management and planning models such as CERC.

MEDIA RELATIONS IN THE OIL FIELDS

1997 ◽  
Vol 1997 (1) ◽  
pp. 988-988
Author(s):  
Bob Wilkerson ◽  
Tony Shelton ◽  
Allen Caudle
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Oil Fields ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
Media Relations ◽  
Response Effort ◽  
The Public ◽  
Overall Response ◽  
Public Information Officers ◽  
The Media

ABSTRACT Developing and implementing an integrated field media relations strategy during an oil spill is critical to the success of an overall response effort. A company's crisis media relations plan should address all of the issues associated with communicating with the media during an oil spill incident. The plan should place particular emphasis on how one will coordinate the media strategy with one's field, the regional and corporate staff, and the public information officers from all of the involved regulatory agencies. If the effort is coordinated, everyone can respond quickly with the facts that the media want to know and speak with one voice.

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