How to Communicate to Journalists

March 06, 2013 | by Fidelis E Satriastanti

A scientist inspects test tubes containing dyes in a laboratory. (Reuters Photo).

For the past six years, I was a journalist. But not anymore. So it was a nerve-wrecking moment when my colleague asked me to talk in front of scientists about what I did for a living.

Why? Because, first, I didn't study journalism in university. But I did get training when I jumped into this profession. It was more like a 'learning by doing' process.

Second of all, during my time as journalist, scientists were my news sources. So it was a bit overwhelming for me to be on the other side.

My colleague, however, reassured me that the workshop would be a casual one where a bunch of journalists — both from print and multimedia — were given standard questions about how we do research, pick stories, what time we go to work, and so on.

The whole idea of the workshop was to acquaint the scientists with how the media works. The goal was to make it easier for them to communicate their works and/or researches to the media.

Unwilling to take any risk of babbling my way all through the workshop, I did research on "how to communicate to journalists" and stumbled into science communication.

To my surprise, science journalists whom I came across emphasized the same issues when they interviewed the scientists. Mostly they would say that scientists are always having a hard time to simplify their works or researches into words, and they would get caught up in explaining the methods rather than pointing out the essence of their works.

The first session of the workshop went very well. We were asked normal questions on the process of gathering news. The most discussed topic was really on how to answer questions from journalists and how to make sure the sources weren't misquoted.

My immediate answer was reflected from one of my former editor's advice in my early days of writing environmental issues: "You need to write it in a language that a high school student can understand your writing."

In the second session, the scientists were asked to prepare key messages on their researches before being interviewed by the journalists. Afterwards, we provided them feedbacks on they're doing with the interviews.

It was a short interview and we weren't prepared to interview them. But it showed that the scientists often get too caught up in the methods of their works.

Some of the scientists kicked off with a very long scientific terms, which made me cringe, while some others were just talking about the methods. Some, though, made good statements.

To my surprise, they were very much eager on the short interview and they admitted that it wasn't that easy to simplify their works into a limited amount of words.

By the end of the workshop, the scientists made jokes on how they need to practice finding alternate words for their researches with their grandmothers.

I took the jokes as a compliment and a self-reminder to practice it on my own writings.

(Published at http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/talkback/how-to-communicate-to-journalists/577673)

Obama Addresses Climate Change in Inaugural Speech

January 25, 2013 | by Fidelis E Satriastanti

US President Barack Obama delivers his inaugural address during inauguration ceremonies in Washington, Jan. 21, 2013. (Reuters Photo/Brian Snyder).

I wasn't really waiting for US President Barack Obama's inaugural speech the other day, but I watched it anyway. It's always inspiring to watch him giving speeches. Plus, a tweet in my Twitter timeline wondered what Obama would say about climate change. He gave an impressive opening, but the speech got more interesting when he mentioned about climate change. A very firm message, I must say.

"We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition. We must lead it," Obama made strong remarks on the subject.

US media and the American people have urged their president to put more action on clean energy policy rather than just rhetorical promises.

When Obama took presidency in 2009 as the 44th President of the United States, there were hopeful voices from around the world. Almost all countries were so prepped up to face the 2009 UN Climate Change Conferences in Copenhagen, Denmark, which aimed to have a new binding agreement on curbing greenhouse has emissions, replacing the Kyoto Protocol.

As a powerful nation, also a major emitter country, America's position was quite crucial in the negotiations to cut more greenhouse gas emissions. It was the largest and packed conference ever. However, the conference was that satisfying, results-wise. The Copenhagen Accord was blasted by many countries, especially the developing and least-developed countries, who were enraged for being excluded in the process.

In Indonesia, the subject of climate change has always been considered as an "up in the sky" issue. It has not reached its popularity before the 2007 Climate Change Conference in Bali and when president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, during a G20 meeting in Pittsburgh, US, in 2009, announced to voluntarily cut the country's greenhouse gas emissions up to 26 percent by 2020.

Yudhoyono's ambition was heavily praised by other countries but strongly criticized at home. The intention, according to Yudhoyono, was to force major countries, especially the US, to step up the negotiation by agreeing to reveal its emission cut numbers on the table, rather than just acknowledging that the world is indeed in extreme condition and the earth needs help.

On his first inaugural address in 2009, Obama did not specifically mention the climate change issue or sustainable energy. He instead just acknowledged "a warming planet."

I was thrilled when Obama touched on the subject as it would lift up the political stance in the US. Hence, it could inspire other countries, including Indonesia, to speed up their efforts.

Indonesia is trying its best to tackle climate change issues, whether we know it or not, from forest conservation, deforestation moratorium, movements to plant more trees to campaigns to shift to a cleaner energy. Indonesia, however, is still in a very slow pace. Notable problems include ego-sectoral barriers from institutions involved. Such troubles could be overcame if the "big boss" has a strong commitment on fighting the issue.

With Obama already announced his stance, Indonesia should also move faster and regain its leadership in climate change. It is no longer the time to sit on hotel ballrooms and discuss the effects of climate change or waste time drafting regulations. Let's get real, these days the sun is getting hotter in dry season and the rain is heavier in rainy season.

(published at http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/globebeat/obama-addresses-climate-change-in-inaugural-speech/567606)