From an abstract dissertation towards a journalistic article

GOAL:

 

Convince the reader that your research is interesting, inspiring and worth reading by presenting it in a fascinating, varied and easy-to-grasp way.

 

 

 

 

YOUR AUDIENCE: 'An intelligent sixteen-year-old'

 

- You are not writing for a professor or a supervisor

BUT for an audience of common people that does not know much about your subject or about science.

 

- Your audience is not obliged to read your article

BUT must be seduced and stimulated to read your text. Perhaps you can try and find a point of contact, a common interest between you as a researcher and the reader.

 

- Researchers discuss complex, abstract and often technical subjects

BUT the ordinary reader is only interested in a clear, concrete and personal text.

 

STRUCTURE OF YOUR ARTICLE

 

Title: an EYE-catcher

 

Your title must stand out and draw the attention of your audience.

 

Introduction

 

Your introduction is the LINK between your dissertation and your audience. By presenting the research in an attractive way, your introduction should convince and encourage the reader to keep reading.

 

1. Convince your audience:

 

- What is unique about your research (biggest, smallest, most,...)?

- Does your research has any news value (can you link it in one way or another to current events?)

- Why is your article relevant and interesting to non-scientists as well?

 

--> Every dissertation is unique, interesting and topical, but the trick is emphasize that in a concrete, creative and comprehensible manner.

 

2. Formulate the key thought of your article concisely.

 

Body

 

In the body of your article you elaborate on the main idea.

- Focus on what is important, do not get lost in details.

- Avoid being vague, but give concrete examples.

 

Slot

 

Do not write a long-winded conclusion, but finish your article in a few lines.

 

SOME TIPS

 

Language and terminology

 

- Use clear and simple vocabulary.

- Keep in mind that the reader is not familiar with scientific terminology and explain technical terms immediately, briefly and to the point.

 

Style

 

- Illustrate scientific formulas with concrete examples, comparisons or images that the "normal" reader can understand.

 

Example: 'Coronal mass ejections (CME's)'

--> scientific language: a coronal mass ejection is an ejection of material from the solar corona, usually observed with a white-light coronagraph

--> 'every day' language: coronal mass ejections can be described as the sun belching.

 

(Source: Marina Joubert, 'How do I become a media savvy?')

 

 

Did you know? That editors' mailboxes bulge with press releases about soundings and other (market) research? These messages often come from PR-agencies, sometimes they contain 'real' news. In your article you must thus try and distinguish your thesis from bad research. Science journalists always take certain criteria into account.