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I'm still getting a *lot* of media enquiries - more than I can even respond to! So here's some of my best tips for how to reach out to me to maximise your chances of success (though I imagine they're true of other scientists too!)
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(Just as a disclaimer - even if you use all of these, I can't promise I write back, or that I can say yes. If emails slip off the 'front page' of my inbox they basically fall into a black hole 
. And sometimes I just cannot take any more interviews, even great ones.)
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. And sometimes I just cannot take any more interviews, even great ones.)2/7
1. Please tell me what time zone you're in!
If I want to say 'yes' that means a pencilled-in appointment goes into the calendar immediately - so I need to know when you're likely to be awake. If I have to email you to find out... it might not happen.
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If I want to say 'yes' that means a pencilled-in appointment goes into the calendar immediately - so I need to know when you're likely to be awake. If I have to email you to find out... it might not happen.
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2. Please tell me your deadline!
I don't mean your editors deadline or publishing deadline. I mean - do you need to talk to me in 24 hours? By Friday? By next Wednesday? Again, this means I can pencil this in my calendar *straight away* (or at least let you know it's a no).
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I don't mean your editors deadline or publishing deadline. I mean - do you need to talk to me in 24 hours? By Friday? By next Wednesday? Again, this means I can pencil this in my calendar *straight away* (or at least let you know it's a no).
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(Tip: the more time you give me the better my chance of response. I know that isn't always in journalists' control, but my days fill up fast and last-minute things are often impossible to squeeze in.)
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3. Stand out from the crowd!
I get a lot of the same emails every day: "I'd like to talk to you about the variants."
Why should I pick email 1 over email 2? Ask an interesting question. Show you've done your research. Make me like your email better!
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I get a lot of the same emails every day: "I'd like to talk to you about the variants."
Why should I pick email 1 over email 2? Ask an interesting question. Show you've done your research. Make me like your email better!
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4. Make it impossible for me not to respond!
Ask me the question nobody's asked me yet & your chances of getting a response shoot up. I spend a lot of my media time repeating myself. Give me a chance to take a new angle or a subject I care a lot about - I can't stop myself!
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Ask me the question nobody's asked me yet & your chances of getting a response shoot up. I spend a lot of my media time repeating myself. Give me a chance to take a new angle or a subject I care a lot about - I can't stop myself!
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