MEDIA TRAINING

Specialist media and communication training workshops for researchers

Know your audience, know your story

We offer a range of training in media, communication, engagement and presentations for all researchers from early-career to research leaders.

Our full day courses are for groups of six to twelve people, and shorter workshops for groups of 20 to 200. 
We offer a suite of online and onsite engagement, media, communication and presentation training for researchers from early career to leadership.

We’ve trained thousands of researchers from hundreds of organisations. Get in touch with Sarah Brooker to learn how our science communications training services can build your confidence, and upskill your team.

ENQUIRIES

Flexible, modular, and practical science communications training

Media and communications workshops

Get an insight into the world of media, and practice your pitch in front of real journalists in a hands-on, full-day workshop. We hold workshops quarterly right across Australia, which are open to all. Contact us to book a private workshop for up to 12 people from your organisation.

Forums

90-minute moderated discussions with Q&A where we bring the audience for your research to you. Meet the press, stakeholders, and understand the role of social media. These can be delivered in person or online for up to 100 participants.

Short workshops

Short, sharp, deep dives on a specific topic for small or large groups. These can be stand-alone or run back-to-back with one of the forums above with a short break in between.

One-to-one consulting

Book dedicated time with one of our experts. We can help you crack your specific research story, and then support with bespoke training in areas that matter to you; talking to media, writing presentations, speeches, building your profile and more. More information

Perth (full)

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

WAITLIST
Sydney

Friday, 20 February 2026

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Melbourne

Tuesday, 10 March 2026

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MEDIA TRAINING

Book an upcoming training workshop

We host regular media training workshops across Australia. These sessions cater to small groups and are open to all researchers and communicators. Learn more about our private and bespoke training workshop options.

LEARN MORE

We’ve trained thousands of researchers from leading Australian research organisations

  • I really enjoyed this media training course. It explained how the main media streams work, helped us plan to communicate our story.
    Andrea Taschetto,
    Climate Change Research Centre UNSW
  • It was absolutely fascinating and a real eye-opener about how the media works behind the scenes. They did an absolutely awesome job.
    Cathi Humphrey-Hood,
    Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University
  • Possibly one of the best training exercises I’ve done.

    Rebecca Freshwater,
    Department for Environment and Water
  • Highly recommend the media training with Science in Public; Tanya hosted a session in Sydney, working with postdocs from our institute. We learnt how to adapt our research stories for news, radio, and print based reporting.
    Monique Box,
    Stem Cell Scientist and Vascular Bioengineer

Media and communication training

Practice interviews. Develop key messages. Prep for tricky questions. Ensure your research is reported accurately.

Our media and communication masterclass will help you find the story in your research and learn how to achieve media coverage that is true to your science AND engages your audience.

This workshop is over one full day on-site, or can be modified for online delivery over two half days.

Working journalists from television, print and radio join us to explain what makes news for them. You will get the chance to ask questions and to be interviewed by journalists, get feedback and practical advice.

Our media training stands apart from most corporate training which tends to be adversarial. We focus on making the scientist and their work shine for the media and their stakeholders.

We also help you work out how to stay out of trouble and deal with tricky questions. But mostly we focus on helping you tell a good story, free of jargon and complexity.

The course covers: television (with practice interviews); radio (with practice interviews); handling tricky questions and staying out of trouble; print and online media; developing your communication plan; social media and becoming an ‘expert’.

Forums

90-minute moderated discussions with Q&A where we bring your audience to you. These are currently delivered online for up to 100 participants

Meet the press. Guests include three working journalists from TV news, print/online and radio who discuss what they do, and what they’re looking for in stories.

Talking to stakeholders. Panellists include journalists, ministerial advisers, business/innovation gurus, patient advocates, and/or social media experts—to get researchers thinking about how and why to talk with the media and other stakeholders.

Should you be on social? Should you be on social media? Hear from researchers who have built strong social media profiles. Find out how and why they started and what they’ve learnt along the way.

Short workshops

These can be stand-alone or run back-to-back with one of the forums above with a short break in between.

Make your pitch/presentation. What makes a good pitch or presentation, write one, present it and receive feedback.

Develop your online profile. Walk through the steps to develop a personal profile: covering websites, Twitter accounts, Facebook profiles, and other platforms. Covering why you might want a higher profile, who are your communities of interest, sharing content, and keeping out of trouble.

One-on-one mentoring and training

Book in for a 90-minute individual session with a science communication guru. You can book a slot directly on our website.

  • Media training: Develop and practice your story, so you are ready for media interviews for your next discovery.
  • Presentation training: Develop and refine an important presentation to stakeholders.
  • Communication planning for your research: Develop a short communication plan for your research, which will help you focus your efforts on the stakeholders and audiences that you need to reach for your research to have impact.
  • Build your online profile: Build a plan for your personal profile: covering why you might want a profile, who are your communities of interest, sharing content, keeping out of trouble, and choosing the right platforms: websites, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms.
  • Build your profile through prizes and expert comment: Get some help identifying prizes you might apply for now and in the future and we’ll introduce you to ways you can become an expert commentator.
Woman writing in a notebook with a laptop and coffee cup on a desk. Ideal for workspace inspiration.
Woman writing in a notebook with a laptop and coffee cup on a desk. Ideal for workspace inspiration.

Presenters

The courses will be presented by one or more of the following:

  • Sarah Brooker, Managing Director: Sarah has over twenty years’ experience in science communication including creating the Gene Technology Information Service for the Australian government’s industry department.
  • Niall Byrne, Creative Director: Niall managed communication for CSIRO’s high security Animal Health Laboratory for nine years before establishing Science in Public with Sarah.
  • Tanya Ha, Engagement Director: Tanya is an environmental communicator. She’s worked with Planet Ark, as a reporter for ABC Catalyst, serves on several boards, and is Vice President of Science & Technology Australia.
  • Maddy De Gabriele is a science writer and communications manager. Previously she worked as a senior reporter for Zoos Victoria, The Conversation and has fact-checked state elections.
  • Bill Condie is a former Fleet Street journalist and science writer at Science In Public

Our capability

We’ve been training researchers for twenty years in media, communication and pitching skills.

  • Pitch, presentation and media training for over 600 Defence Science Technology staff.
  • Courses around Australia in 2024 for Macquarie University, UNSW, MTPConnect, DSTG, Monash Business School and many others.
  • Pitch and presentation training for over 50 methodological statisticians at the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
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