Although The Conversation is a news platform, our editorial process is different to other media. This course introduces you to who we are and how we share academic expertise with our global audience.
The first section explains who we are and how we work: how writing for The Conversation is different from academic blogging and how we support academics to write for a non-expert audience. It provides an insight into how academic authors work with editors and what they have gained from their experience.
The second section takes you through the tools you will use on the website if you go on to pitch and write for The Conversation.
Who this course is for
This course is free for any academic at a higher education institution. Academics, PhD candidates and researchers who would like to understand how The Conversation works and how they can get involved. It is a precursor to courses on how to write short and longform articles for and pitch to The Conversation.
After completing this course, you will be able to:
• Understand the differences between an academic blog and The Conversation's articles
• Recognise the mindset needed to write for a news platform like The Conversation
• Describe how The Conversation’s editorial process works and recognise the support you will receive as an academic author
• List the potential benefits to your research and your career by writing for The Conversation
• Use the platform tools to set up your own author profile and pitch and write for The Conversation
This course is led by:
Stephen Harris
Deputy Editor
Stephen is responsible for managing the day-to-day publication of articles on the site. He previously spent a decade as a science and technology journalist, including five years as The Conversation's science editor, and before that as senior reporter and special projects editor for The Engineer, the world's longest running technology magazine.
Michael Parker
Director of Operations
Part of the team that launched The Conversation in the UK in 2013, Michael has been its environment + energy editor, technology editor, and is now membership editor/director of operations managing the membership. Previously he was for 10 years a news and features journalist covering everything from crime to culture for British newspapers and magazines, latterly Associate Editor at The Big Issue in London.
What you will learn:
Section 1 How The Conversation works
Available in
days
days
after you enroll
- 1. Course overview (1:01)
- 2. An overview of The Conversation – who we are and what we do (2:53)
- 3. The difference between The Conversation and an academic blog (2:58)
- 4. How we work at The Conversation: an overview of the editorial process
- 5. What to expect when working with an editor (3:29)
- 6. Impact and engagement (3:54)
- 7. Skills academics develop by writing for The Conversation (4:08)
Section 2 How to use the tools on The Conversation website
Available in
days
days
after you enroll
- The Conversation website tools
- 8. How to set up an author account and create and edit your profile (12:12)
- 9. How to use the pitch function on The Conversation website (4:40)
- 10. The editing suite (8:41)
- 11. The dashboard – how it works and how you can use it for your research (6:02)
- 12. Responding to comments
- Next steps
