The Conversation is a politically independent, non-profit international news site with readership on par with The Guardian and The New York Times (140 million reads in 2022). Lund University is a member of the platform, which gives researchers here a chance to interact with the outside world and other news media through The Conversation. Articles that are published are written by researchers who are supported in the process by experienced journalists and editors.
Tove Smeds at the Communications Division at the Faculty of Medicine is the Faculty's contact person for questions about The Conversation. Here she lists five reasons why researchers should spend time publishing on The Conversation, tips on how to write the article and how to proceed, step by step.
Why should I, as a researcher, publish on The Conversation?
- Chance for visibility of your research to a large international audience; from the general public to decision-makers and other researchers.
- Opportunity for unexpected collaborations and networking.
- You will be assisted from idea to publication by an experienced science journalist/editor: an instructive process that you can use in other contexts when you want to reach a wider readership.
- Access to statistics on how many people read and comment, as well as where the articles are republished. Something you can benefit from in research applications.
- It's free of charge and you have full control over the item. Other media are not allowed to edit the article upon republication, but must take it in its entirety.
How should the article be written to have the best chance of being published on the platform?
- Remember to grab readers' attention in the very first sentence!
- Don't tell everything, choose a clear, interesting, relevant and preferably surprising news angle.
- Connect to current events, connect the research to broader issues in society, or answer a question that people might be wondering about.
- But above all: what are you as a researcher "passionate about"? Share it and try to make it relevant to your readers.
How should I, as a researcher, proceed, step by step, to get published?
- Often it starts with you pitching an article idea based on your research to The Conversation.
- You can also comment on a public debate related to your field.
- But don't write an entire article, but find out if The Conversation is interested in the idea first. It's about answering: What is of interest to the public? Why now? Why are you the right person to write about this?
- Read articles that The Conversation has published in your research area, it can give you ideas.
Other ways to be featured on The Conversation?
"Every week we receive expert requests, where The Conversation is looking for researchers who can write about, or comment on, various topics/debates. Then it is often quick and often requires a response within a couple of hours."
