EXPERT VOICES SciLine recruits Ph.D.-level scientists, engineers, and medical professionals from academic and research institutions nationwide willing to share their expertise with reporters on a voluntary basis. These experts are selected on the basis of their demonstrated excellence in scientific research and their mediarelevant communication skills.
TEAM SCILINE The SciLine team is made up of experienced journalists, editors, and Ph.D. scientists. Together, we work to ensure that our services and products meet the highest standards of scientific accuracy and are delivered to reporters clearly and on newsroomrelevant timescales.
“It was a very positive interaction and a good story – thank you for connecting us.” — Psychologist, matched to a reporter at The New Orleans Advocate
SciLine was created in 2017 with foundational support from the Quadrivium Foundation and has received additional funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, The Heinz Endowments, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Rita Allen Foundation, and The Schmidt Family Foundation. We are editorially independent from our funders, receive no corporate funding, and provide all services and products for free.
Based at the American Association for the Advancement of Science www.sciline.org @RealSciLine
“The experts were wonderful and exactly what I was looking for! They were knowledgeable on the topic and were able to accommodate my tight deadline.” — Freelance Reporter
PHILANTHROPICALLY FUNDED. EDITORIALLY INDEPENDENT. FREE. www.sciline.org RealSciLine
SCILINE’S MISSION MAKE THE BEST SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE EASILY AVAILABLE AND READILY USEFUL TO U.S. JOURNALISTS. SciLine is a philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, dedicated to the proposition that virtually any news story can be enriched—and its public benefit amplified—by including scientific research results, expertise, and context. We provide an array of resources to reporters covering stories related to science, health, agriculture, and the environment, to help them highlight methodically derived evidence over opinion, speculation, hype, and spin. We especially aim to assist local and general assignment reporters, who have become increasingly responsible for covering health, environment, and related stories as science reporting staffs have shrunk.
“My feedback is all positive. I strongly support this initiative … and think it is much-needed, and has been for some time.” — Marine biologist, matched to a reporter at National Geographic
WHAT WE DO EXPERT MATCHING ON DEMAND. SciLine has hand-
ONLINE MEDIA BRIEFINGS. SciLine regularly offers live,
built a detailed database of scientists (10,000-strong and growing) with details about their research expertise, communication skills, and media experience, for referral to reporters in need of sources. Journalists can go to the SciLine website to request rapid, personal support securing carefully matched experts for their stories, on deadline.
on-the-record, web-based media briefings. Expert panelists explain the science behind topics in the news that are often clouded by confusion, misinformation, or debate, with plenty of time for journalist Q&A.
BOOT CAMPS FOR JOURNALISTS. SciLine hosts periodic science “boot camps” for reporters. These all-expenses-paid, multi-day workshops feature expert faculty from across the nation and are designed to arm journalists with the knowledge and context they need to cover science, health, and environment issues with confidence.
EASY-TO-USE FACT SHEETS. SciLine publishes concise summaries of newsworthy scientific issues, designed for easy use by time-stressed reporters. Written in-house and reviewed by independent scientific experts, SciLine fact sheets do not support or oppose specific policies but provide research-based context for use in news stories and fact checking.
“You guys saved me on this one. I couldn’t find anyone with availability before my deadline and have been hunting all day. Thanks so much!” — Reporter, San Diego Union-Tribune