Collaborative Journalism:Scientists beyond sources

One of the biggest issues facing modern journalism is a lack of resources and time, which makes reporting on in-depth, important topics in science increasingly difficult, especially for general reporters. The Collaborative Journalism Project, supported by a META Public Interest Journalism grant from the Walkley Foundation, brings scientists together with journalists in newsrooms to create new, in-depth content on key topics for Australian society. A unique aspect of the program is that experts guide the reporting rather than simply being an angle or a source in a journalist’s story. This year, the Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) assisted five newsrooms to cover carbon farming, endometriosis, sustainable cities, vaping, and fertility. The resulting reporting reached millions of Australians of all ages, and in both urban and rural areas. Join Olivia Henry from the AusSMC as she talks about what we learnt and how a little bit of support can go a long way.