News Media 101
A workshop to explore the why's and how's of the media role in R&D.
Date: Sunday, September 26, 2004
Time: 11:00 am–4:15 pm
Cost: $289.00

Who Should Attend
For anybody who would like to better understand the media business, and how to inform the public about S&T by using the news media as a conduit.

About the Topic
Our democratic method of governance rests on transparency and accountability. When researchers use public funds, the key stakeholder (and ultimate “boss”) is the taxpaying public, which needs to know how its “company funds” are used. Even when using private funds researchers are aiming at the eventual final customer: the general public. The news media are a major conduit to that public. That’s why working with the media is the right and necessary thing to do. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy! Here’s your chance to learn:

• What reporters really want (and need)
• How to prepare for a media interview
• How public affairs professionals can help you

Presented by:
Mary E. Hanson, Executive Officer
Office of Legislative and Public Affairs National Science Foundation
Ms. Hanson has worked in the media and public affairs business for more than 20 years–including 10 in the area of science communications. She currently oversees executive management operations for the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs at the National Science Foundation. As such, she helps scientists to better communicate the value of basic research and science education to Congress, the press, and the general public.

Mary E. Hanson, Executive Officer

Ms. Hanson has been at NSF for ten years. During six years as the agency’s media chief, she focused chiefly on the news media—as chief spokesperson, media planner, and advisor to top agency officials. She helped plan, oversee or respond to NSF’s most visible moments, including the South Pole medical airdrop, science literacy surveys, and media attention to many contentious or complex science issues. From NSF, she was twice tapped for temporary detail to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy: in 1994, to help publicize a new national science policy; and in 1998, to help ease the transition of the new President’s Science Advisor from NSF to the White House.

She also served as executive secretary for the Committee on Communications and Outreach of the National Science Board (NSF’s policy body), and drafted the resulting report. Ms. Hanson is also a public affairs officer in the Naval reserve, with 21 years of service (including 10 on active duty). She was selected for the rank of Captain in April 2003. As a reservist, she has been recalled to temporary active duty several times—including five months at the Pentagon in 2000 to help communicate the need for the anthrax vaccine, and three months at the Pentagon in 2004 to lead the revision of the Navy’s public affairs policy and regulations.”

In her second command tour, she is now Commanding Officer of Navy Information Bureau Detachment 102 in Norfolk. Before focusing on the Navy or on science, Ms. Hanson focused on any news the public cared about during five years as a print and broadcast journalist in Michigan.

She earned her B.A. in Mass Communications in 1980 from Northern Michigan University, and her M.A. in Communications in 1992 from the University of Oklahoma. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers, a recent board member of the DC Science Writers Association, and a frequent speaker and trainer on media-scientist and media-military relationships—most recently as the producer and presenter of a workshop called “News Media 101” for the AAAS annual meeting. She has received several significant awards from NSF and from the Navy, but is most proud to be a public servant (times two).