Psychologists wishing to see their research enter the media spotlight must be available at a moment’s notice and always have a prepared and clear message, according to experts who participated in a workshop titled “Partnering With the Media,” on Sept. 6 at Fordham University.
“Availability is very important,” said Anie Kalayjian, Ed.D., visiting professor of psychology at Fordham, who was the keynote speaker at the workshop. “You must have flexibility in your schedule to meet the demands of the media.”
The panel was one of five interactive workshops in the daylong conference, “Behavioral Science and the Global Agenda: Making a Difference in the 21st Century,” in the 12th-floor lounge of the Leon Lowenstein Center on the Lincoln Center campus.
Kalayjian, who has been interviewed for television, radio and print, shared her experiences in the media with a group of psychologists and students. She encouraged psychologists in pursuit of media coverage to gain experience by joining professional organizations that have speaker bureaus or contacts with media-relations offices.
Joshua Fogel, Ph.D., assistant professor of behavioral sciences at Brooklyn College, encouraged the students to gain media experience by reaching out to their local newspapers. Regardless of the platform, clarity is most important when working with the media, according to Fogel.
“Consider who the audience is and think about the message that you want to share,” said Fogel. “The media are going to use only what they understand.”
“Behavioral Science and the Global Agenda: Making a Difference in the 21st Century,” examined how behavioral scientists can adapt to today’s global issues. Other workshops featured discussions on opportunities for student involvement in international and U.N. work, publishing overseas and making psychology a household word.
