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11/13/03</title></head><body>
<div>MIT EDITORS' CLUB<br>
</div>
<div>*Meeting Notes from November 13, 2003*</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>While I was attending today's Editors' Club meeting a colleague
sent me an interesting query that came in to the News Office web site.
You'll find it at the end of these minutes. I was hoping ya'll could
help me respond. ;) ;) (Um, that's a double wink,
folks.)</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>*Writing/Media Relations Resources*</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>What are some of *your* favorite resources for writing and/or
media relations? Three came up at this meeting:</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>--For science writing, check out the web site for the National
Association of Science Writers<font face="Lucida Grande" size="-4"
color="#000000"> http://nasw.org/</font>. Among other things, it can
help you find a science writer for a specific project or locate
potential freelance opportunities for yourself. The NASW also sells a
book that I thoroughly recommend. A Field Guide for Science Writers
can be ordered off the web site for $15<font face="Lucida Grande"
size="-4" color="#000000">. In addition to chapters by</font>
reporters in a variety of media, the book also includes a chapter on
science writing *outside* the media, such as for universities and
government.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>--Check out PIOnet, a listserv for university Public Information
Officers (science writers and media relations folk at universities and
other nonprofits). Go to http://www.newswise.com/public/pionet/</div>
<div> for the PIOnet member directory, job listings, and info on
how to join. (I suggest subscribing to the PIOnet "digest"
that compiles one e-mail a day containing all messages posted.)</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>--Marilyn Wilson of MIT Career Services has compiled a Science
Journalism Reference Sheet that includes info including additional
URLs of interest to writers. She'll send it to us in a separate e-mail
(Thanks, Marilyn!). Marilyn prepared the sheet as a handout for an IAP
panel discussion she organizes every year called "science
journalism and related fields." The 2004 panel will be January
15.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>*Wright Brothers at MIT*</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first
flight, the MIT Museum is hosting a variety of activities that sound
super interesting. Jack Curtis, Public Relations officer for the
museum, told us about events ranging from a Saturday Festival of
Flight (<font face="Lucida Grande" size="-4"
color="#000000">http://mit.edu/museum/programs/nov-dec.html#flight</font
> ) to a noon talk by one of the museum's curators on "aviation's
most precious relic"---fabric from the original 1903
airplane<font face="Lucida Grande" size="-4" color="#000000">
(http://mit.edu/museum/programs/nov-dec.html#flightfabric)</font>.</div
>
<div><br></div>
<div>*News Office Media Database*</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Actually, Jack brought up the Museum's Wright Brothers' events
because he's working to publicize them to local media. "Can the
News Office help me find appropriate contacts?" he asked. Yep,
especially since my colleagues Darren Clarke, Patti Richards, and
Myles Crowley recently unveiled a new database that includes over
2,000 media from around Boston and the world. If you'd like help
publicizing a given event, research result, etc., please give me a
call at x8-5402 or thomson@mit.edu. I can either help you myself or
direct you to the proper News Office person.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>*Web Redesign: Agghhh*</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Paul Rivenberg of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center is
currently redesigning the center's web site. His immediate
query--finding a consultant who can review the templates he's already
created--grew into a wide-ranging discussion on the overall topic. For
example, Susan Curran (the homepage Spotlight Lady and a member of Web
Communications Services) encouraged folks to call WCS if they need
advice or help. Some services are free, others not.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Susan also suggested that folks call Information Systems'
Usability Team when their web sites are farther along. That team, led
by Susan Jones (sbjones@mit.edu) can "test" the site for
usability and to make sure it's accessible to those with
disabilities.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Overall, Editors at this meeting agreed wholeheartedly with
Katrina Norman of the<font size="-1" color="#000000"> Biotechnology
Process Engineering Center</font> who emphasized that GATHERING
CONTENT is the hardest part of web redesign. That and mobilizing all
teams involved to work together....</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>*Next Meeting*</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>The next meeting of MIT Editors' Club is Tuesday, December 16,
from 12-1 in the News Office (11-400).</div>
<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<div>*And the Query Is.....*</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>If you can think of a response, please feel free to drop me a
line. Otherwise, just enjoy.</div>
<div><br></div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br>
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO SOMEONE AT MIT ABOUT DESIGNING A REMOTE
STARTER FOR A TRUCK HEATER, THAT WORKS OFF A THERMOSTAT OR A
TIMER.. IT HAS TO BYPASS THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND BE TOTALLY
INDEPENDENT.<br>
I SLEEP IN MY TRUCK IN THE WINTER IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN..<br>
I AM A WILDLIFE OFFICER AND THE SAFTEST HEATER IS IN THE TRUCK ALREADY
INSTALLED.. ALL I NEED IS SOMETHING TO TURN THE HEATER ON AND
OFF SO I DON'T FREEZE MY BUNS OFF.<br>
CAN U HELP OUT.</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>SOMEONE?</blockquote>
<div><br></div>
<div>Cheers,</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Elizabeth</div>
<x-sigsep><pre>--
</pre></x-sigsep>
<div><br>
====================================<br>
Elizabeth A. Thomson<br>
Assistant Director, Science & Engineering News<br>
Massachusetts Institute of Technology<br>
News Office, Room 11-400<br>
77 Massachusetts Ave.<br>
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307<br>
617-258-5402 (ph); 617-258-8762 (fax)<br>
<thomson@mit.edu><br>
<br>
<http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/www><br>
====================================</div>
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