Media Training and Presentation Coaching for Scientists

Communications

Hosted by the Communications Department, featuring media training experts Dave Cieslak and Chip Scutari.

Can you explain your science in a clear and memorable way to non-scientists? How confident are you when asked to speak to reporters about your research and why it matters?

Whether you’re a seasoned investigator or a postdoc, you’ll encounter many situations in which you must communicate your work to a general audience. Maybe it’s a news interview, a fundraising event, or even a family gathering.

In this session, you’ll learn to distill your story and share it in a confident and personable manner to connect with non-scientific audiences. Get useful tips and strategies you can use when the next media opportunity arises or when you’re speaking with potential donors. Refreshments will be served in the lobby from 8:30–9:00am prior to the event, so be sure to register to help us plan for the order.

In this presentation, you’ll learn:

• How to prepare for a successful media interview—including understanding the audience, anticipating a reporter’s questions, and mapping out your key messages.
• The most common tactics reporters use, and how to respond to uncomfortable questions while staying within your realm of expertise.
• What makes for a good quote or sound bite in a media interview, and how this also pertains to presenting your story to non-scientific audiences.
• How to alter your approach depending on whether your interview or presentation is in person or online.
• The importance of body language, tone, and confidence.

This event is open to everyone at Gladstone, including non-scientists. Even if you’re not currently interacting with media or donors, this session can improve your overall presentation skills and your ability to connect with audiences.

About the Event

Coming to Gladstone for the first time, media trainers Dave Cieslak and Chip Scutari will help prepare you for success when speaking to the media, donors, or other non-scientific audiences. Having worked with other world-renowned scientific institutes, including the Salk Institute and Scripps Research, Cieslak and Scutari understand the nuanced world of scientific media and the complexity of communicating high-impact research to a lay audience. 

About the Speakers

Dave Cieslak is a former journalist who spent years in front of the camera before turning his focus to media coaching. Over the past decade, he’s worked hand in hand with some of the nation’s top scientists to help prepare them for the media spotlight. Before co-founding S+C Communications, Cieslak served as a state communications director for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, putting him on a first-name basis with business and community leaders across the nation. He has provided analysis for The New York Times, Politico, and Newsweek, and has appeared as a commentator on MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC, and Dateline NBC.

Chip Scutari brings an authentic knowledge of storytelling and public policy to the world of media relations and presentation coaching. He has an eye for compelling content and a reporter’s instinct, having worked on the journalistic frontlines for 15 years. His reporting career included several years at the Arizona State Capitol covering powerful politicians and influential business leaders across the political spectrum. His reporting chops, connections, and understanding of politics helps an array of clients navigate the ever-evolving landscape of communications and make him a regular commentator for national news outlets like NPR, Fox News, and The New York Times.

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