Preparing to Talk to the Media - with Help from AI (603)

1 December 2025

Dr Daniel Saraga

Talking to journalists is a unique opportunity to present your research and share your knowledge with society. However, the media might distort what you intended to convey.
This workshop provides you with tools to ensure that your messages are understood and that you remain in control during interactions with the media.

The course covers:
• understanding how the media works
• preparing for an interview
• golden rules to stay on message and handle difficult questions
• developing your media presence

It includes practical exercises, mock interviews, and discussions, and the use of AI tools where appropriate.

Learning Outcomes:

 At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
• prepare efficiently for an interview, including by using AI tools
• deliver information required by journalists, including key messages
• recognize situations that warrant caution and prepare for them
• navigate difficult questions
• develop a media strategy.

University of Lausanne

Date: Wednesday, 1st December 2025

Place: University of Lausanne

Schedule: 9 am to 5 pm

Trainer:

Dr Daniel Saraga is an independent science communication specialist with fifteen years' experience in science communication, outreach and journalism. He trains scientists in using social media, dealing with journalists, and providing policy advice. He has worked for the Swiss National Covid-19 Science Task Force, the ETH Board, Swissuniversities, the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator and Luxembourg's parliament.
He was previously the editor-in-chief of three multilingual popular science magazines, led science communication at the Swiss National Science Foundation, worked as a journalist for the agency Largenetwork, and created dozens of science workshops for children at the University of Basel's Kidslab. A former physics researcher in quantum computing, he holds a PhD from UCL (UK) and an MSc from EPFL.  See www.saraga.ch

Participants are eligible for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses by train between the city of their university and the location of the workshop (half-fare card, 2nd class).

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