The document discusses the reputational risks of storytelling in research and academics. It notes that fear of oversimplification, single mistakes being criticized, and losing control of one's narrative present risks. However, it also quotes a podcast founder saying the benefits of podcasting outweigh these risks, as one philosophy podcast had over 23 million downloads. The document provides tips for focusing a story on a central image rather than too many details, and doing research before speaking to the media to have a clear message and provide definitive answers to journalists.

1. Cheryl Brumley
Multimedia Editor
28 August 2014
@CherylBrumley
#RiskyResearch

2. Reputational Risks and Storytelling
• Fear of reductionism
• Single missteps leave you vulnerable
to critique
• Narrative may get away from you
@CherylBrumley #RiskyResearch

3. @CherylBrumley #RiskyResearch

4. @CherylBrumley #RiskyResearch

5. • I don't think there are huge risks
compared with benefits of podcasting.
One of my colleagues told me that the
podcast which had over 23 million
downloads - almost as many downloads as
the whole of Oxford University's AV online
content”
– Nigel Warburton, host and founder of
Philosophy Bites Podcast (formerly of the
Open University)
@CherylBrumley #RiskyResearch

6. @CherylBrumley #RiskyResearch
Credit: diylibrarian, Flickr, 2007 and Conflict Narrative. Image credit: N.C. Wyeth - The Boy’s
King Arthur (Wikimedia, Public Domain)

7. @CherylBrumley #RiskyResearch

8. @CherylBrumley #RiskyResearch

9. Focus on the smaller picture
• Resist the temptation of
covering too much of
your research.
• Don’t get bogged down
in the details.
• Find that central image
that people can connect
with.
@CherylBrumley #RiskyResearch

10. @CherylBrumley #RiskyResearch

11. Talking to the media? Do your
research first
• Be clear about your message
• Throw journalists a
bone by being
definitive
• The Exposure/Distortion Trade-Off
Credit: Ol.v!er [H2vPk],
Flickr, 2007
@CherylBrumley #RiskyResearch

12. Could you give that to me in 140
characters or less?
• The speed, informality and lack
of support offered by universities
keeps many academics off the platform.
• Social media is riskier for women but…“There are
also significant opportunities for new voices to disrupt
debates, and for disseminate [ideas] to those whom we
normally don’t speak to.”
- Sarah Childs and Rosie Campbell, Feminist academics
@CherylBrumley #RiskyResearch

13. Cheryl Brumley
Multimedia Editor
28 August 2014
@CherylBrumley
#RiskyResearch
THANKS
Link to my “Simple Guide to Academic
Podcasting”: http://bit.ly/1qxhKRa
Link to Impact Blog Post “Academia and
storytelling are not incompatible”:
http://bit.ly/1rzFMxH