As academics hold the key to improved public understanding of education-related issues, the Media Centre for Education Research Australia (MCERA) provides a valuable conduit through which education research and researchers are made more accessible to the media.
Flinders University’s platinum sponsorship of MCERA means that University staff can access free resources to help share their expertise. The great outreach of the MCERA team, which is based in the Social Sciences South building at Flinders University, provides journalists with expert, independent and accessible insights from education researchers and practitioners.
Due to this broad interest in education-related stories, academics from all University colleges are invited to make submissions – because the MCERA is keen to promote innovations from all tertiary education. It provides a valuable contact point for all Flinders University colleges and researchers involved in innovative approaches to teaching across all spheres, including tertiary education.
The Flinders University media team liaises with MCERA to ensure coverage achieves reach and impact and contributes to our researchers’ media analytics.
MCERA invites academics to email shannon.schedlich@mcera.org.au with their raw ideas for stories, which can distributed to journalists with contact details, as a way to pique reporters’ interest in developing such ideas into media stories.
Researchers are also welcome to contact MCERA and share a viewpoint, provide regular updates or perhaps revisit an older study that may be relevant to current events or news stories.
MCERA can provide a valuable outlet for expert opinions about education issues tied to relevant research, major shifts taking place within the education sector, background commentary to major events, reports or decisions relevant to education – or even raising a topical issue in your field, on which you’d like to share your perspective.
Contacting the Flinders University news team with your new papers or research in the first instance enables richer collaboration with MCERA to help maximise coverage of key educational issues.