News from the CEPA e-mail list

Writing for the media (31/07/08)

Good morning All:

Ever wondered how best to write a press release, or how to brief policymakers in science-related issues, or how to make a science news story for radio? The web-based Science and Development Network (SciDev) has brought together a number of articles from well-known media writers on science communication. They are all  well written, easy to understand (as you would expect), and sometimes written with humour – e.g. “In writing the briefing paper, it is useful to remember that in order to be effective, experience has shown that it should pass the 'breakfast test' — that is, whether a politician could identify its main points in the time it takes to eat a hasty breakfast!”

Definitely worth browsing through the links here http://www.scidev.net/en/science-communication/practical-guides/

And yes, we know we are hopelessly late with any World Wetlands Day news. COP10 fever has overtaken us (especially me), but fear not, news is coming. Really, it is.

Best wishes, Sandra Hails, Ramsar Secretariat

Sandra Hails, CEPA Programme Officer
Ramsar Convention Secretariat
Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 999 0176; Fax: +41 22 999 0169
E-mail: hails@ramsar.org
Web Site: http://ramsar.org
CEPA mini-Web site: http://ramsar.org/outreach_index.htm