[Editors] MIT Editors' Club Minutes, 11/13/03

[Elizabeth Thomson]

MIT EDITORS' CLUB

*Meeting Notes from November 13, 2003*

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.)

*Writing/Media Relations Resources*

What are some of *your* favorite resources for writing and/or media 
relations? Three came up at this meeting:

--For science writing, check out the web site for the National 
Association of Science Writers http://nasw.org/. 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. In addition to 
chapters by reporters in a variety of media, the book also includes a 
chapter on science writing *outside* the media, such as for 
universities and government.

--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/
  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.)

--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.

*Wright Brothers at MIT*

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 (http://mit.edu/museum/programs/nov-dec.html#flight ) to a 
noon talk by one of the museum's curators on "aviation's most 
precious relic"---fabric from the original 1903 airplane 
(http://mit.edu/museum/programs/nov-dec.html#flightfabric).

*News Office Media Database*

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 at mit.edu. I can either help you myself or direct you to the 
proper News Office person.

*Web Redesign: Agghhh*

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.

Susan also suggested that folks call Information Systems' Usability 
Team when their web sites are farther along. That team, led by Susan 
Jones (sbjones at mit.edu) can "test" the site for usability and to make 
sure it's accessible to those with disabilities.

Overall, Editors at this meeting agreed wholeheartedly with Katrina 
Norman of the Biotechnology Process Engineering Center who emphasized 
that GATHERING  CONTENT is the hardest part of web redesign. That and 
mobilizing all teams involved to work together....

*Next Meeting*

The next meeting of MIT Editors' Club is Tuesday, December 16, from 
12-1 in the News Office (11-400).


*And the Query Is.....*

If you can think of a response, please feel free to drop me a line. 
Otherwise, just enjoy.

>
>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.
>I SLEEP IN MY TRUCK IN THE WINTER IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN..
>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.
>CAN U HELP OUT.
>SOMEONE?

Cheers,

Elizabeth
-- 

====================================
Elizabeth A. Thomson
Assistant Director, Science & Engineering News
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
News Office, Room 11-400
77 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA  02139-4307
617-258-5402 (ph); 617-258-8762 (fax)
<thomson at mit.edu>

<http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/www>
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