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Annual Report 2010–2011

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Annual Report 2010–2011 The Science Media Centre of Canada | Annual Report 2010–2011 CONTENTS Introduction 1 Message from the Chair 2 Message from the Executive Director 4 The SMCC by the numbers 6 Highlights 6 Key achievements 8 Objectives 9 Benefits 9 Champions 10 Editorial Advisory Committee 11 Board of Directors 11 Research Advisory Panel 12 Charter Members 13 Supporters 14 Staff 14 Financials 15 THE SCIENCE MEDIA CENTRE OF CANADA 1867 St.Laurent Blvd MAIN NUMBERS: PO Box 9724, Station T Ottawa, ON OTTAWA (613) 249-8209 K1G 5A3 CALGARY (403) 456-2109 HALIFAX (902) 442-6909 EMAIL: [email protected] MONTRÉAL (438) 288-3909 FAX: 613-990-3654 VANCOUVER (604) 248-4209 www.sciencemedia.ca GTA (647) 729-1909 INCLUSIVENESS RESPONSIVENESS COLLABORATION CREDIBILITY PERSPECTIVE EFFICIENCY PROACTIVE RELATIONSHIPS OBJECTIVITY RAPID RESPONSE NEUTRALITY CONNECTIONS ACCESSIBILITY ACCURACY TRANSPARENCY DEPTH QUALITY EVIDENCE-BASED VALUE-ADDED Annual Report 2010–2011 1 Inform public debate with evidence-based accurate science. Improve the quality and quantity of reporting in all fields of science. Increased public engagement with science issues through media coverage of science that is accurate, incisive and evidence-based. Public debate and policy decisions will benefit. The vision of the Science Message FROM Media Centre of Canada is to “inform public debate THE CHAIR Of with evidence-based accu- rate science”. Knowing that THE Board science is in everything we are, experience, and will become, the SMCC fills a unique role in terms of bringing science and the media closer together to the benefit of Canadians and public policy decision makers. The Science Media Centre of Canada Media Centre The Science 2 organizational values With the right vision and values, This is where I believe the SMCC Let me take this opportunity to thank our execution of strategy has been can continue to play an important role those organizations and individuals impressive as we close on our first full when it comes to Canada building in who have financially supported the year of operation. In 2011, there have the 21st Century, where the future of SMCC – we could not do what we been a number of groundbreaking science is now. It is a time where we do without you! stories where science is the common must not only understand the poten- denominator; the earthquake in Japan; tial new technologies that are being Finally, while the Board of Directors new viral therapies for cancer; the early discovered, but how they impact our has been fully engaged in the gover- evolution of mammals, to name a few. lives, where they present an opportunity nance of the SMCC, we have been In each case, the SMCC has been a or a threat, and why we must be very fortunate to have the dedication, catalyst for a number of public conver- diligent in their application. passion and strategic focus of our sations about the role and impact Executive Director, Penny Park and of science. If knowledge is the new currency in her team. The SMCC team may be an increasingly interdependent and small in terms of size, but they punch While the world is becoming increasingly competitive world, then science is well above their weight in terms of complex, so is science…and it becomes the foundation upon which innovation impact, relevance and connectedness. essential to demystify what science rests, and it is essential that we means and what role it can play in understand what it means to us I look forward to continuing to work our daily lives. As Carl Sagan said as a society. with all of you as we move forward to ensure that the public discourse “somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known”. This is where In closing, while the SMCC is still in of science allows us to reach our the SMCC can advance the public its early days, there is an important full potential as a nation. dialogue on those science-based foundation and track record of success issues that will have a clear impact from which to build and remain a on our quality of life and overall vibrant and relevant organization. standard of living. Glenn G. Brimacombe Annual Report 2010–2011 Chair 3 MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR A YEAR OF FIRSTS of science. Evidence-based research guidance on best practices to ensure needn’t be the whole story, but it has credibility and usefulness for journalists. much to contribute to the discussion. It’s been a brilliant year Of course thanks to our Board for their A healthy democracy demands an constant and wise strategic council and of firsts – and for that informed public, served by a vibrant our unwavering beacon, founding Chair, an infinite amount of journalistic community. The SMCC Suzanne Corbeil. is here to support journalists on their thanks are in order. timeline, getting access to credible science We couldn’t have opened without experts and accurate background. The the help of our “sister” organizations – We opened our virtual doors as SMCC does not promote any one point the SMCs in the U.K., Australia and th promised September 27 – from our of view but strives to ensure that solid New Zealand. Not only did they provide offices supplied by the Canada Science evidence based research is at the table – invaluable advice on the work-a day and Technology Museum in Ottawa, and heard. world of SMCs from technology to from l’Association des communicateurs governance, but they took time from scientifiques du Quebec in Montreal Our first year has been wonderfully their own crazy schedules to offer and most recently from the Vancouver rewarding. During the Fukushima crisis, warm words of support along the way. Aquarium. A team of five connected by the team fielded daily calls from Canadian 21st century technology began generating and international journalists looking for With help from KPMG we have tweets, weekly alerts, experts comments, experts in nuclear engineering, radiation developed some Key Performance backgrounders and in-depth briefings monitoring and radiation effects. Seeing Indicators, to monitor our impact or webinars in both French and English. a need for some plain speaking back- which you can see below. The data (How many? See our ‘By the Numbers’ grounders explaining radiation levels is imperfectly gathered through section). and monitoring, we sent out two – one our own investigation on the web – garnering kudos from the ombudsman of media monitoring being very expen- The SMCC’s small team of dedicated the British daily newspaper The Guardian. sive. Perhaps one of our readers will journalists and communicators were consider contributing to this endeavor able to do this, thanks to support from We must take this opportunity to thank so that next year we can be even a community of Canadian journalists, our Research Advisory Panel, who make more accurate. academics, scientists, and individuals themselves available on shockingly short in both the public and private sector, notice to provide scientific perspective Of course a special thanks and all of whom recognize the importance and advice, and help direct us to the recognition must go to our many science, engineering, technology, health right experts. funders, the extensive list you can and innovation have for the future see further on in the report. Without of Canada. Thanks as well to our Editorial Advisory their vision and support none of this Committee chaired by founding director would have been possible and I think From safe injection sites to climate Peter Calamai. The EAC were instru- you will agree, it’s been a wonderful change adaptation strategies, from mental in setting up strong journalistic first year. regulating fights in hockey to riot guidelines for the SMCC with a Code control, many, dare I say most of the of Ethics and Expert Selection Policy. Penny Park issues we face today have some element They continue to provide invaluable Executive Director The Science Media Centre of Canada Media Centre The Science 4 Registered Journalists by Quarter 250 200 150 100 50 0 September December March June 2010 (open) 2010 2011 2011 Bilingual French English The response from the growing number of journalists who use our service has been Releases by Type overwhelmingly positive: 14 18 6 Heads Up I’VE HEARD THE 112 Expert Comment SMCC IS CAPABLE Backgrounders 75 Of MAGIC Webinars Other –Nature THERE’S CERTAINLY Media Hits – Who are we reaching? A BUzz RE: THE Location of recorded media hits Types of outlets MEDIA CENTRE IN THE SCIENCE JOURNALISM COMMUNITY AND I’M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO WORK International Journals National Magazines WITH YOU GUYS Regional Online news and blogs –Canadian Science Diverse hits: (e.g. Nature News, Print Writer’s Association Fox News, Ars Technica, Globe Radio and Mail…) TV Diverse media: (e.g. CBC, CTV, Postmedia, the Tyee…) Annual Report 2010–2011 5 Web hits to Backgrounders (cumulative) Fall 2010: 2,500 Oil Sands Science 2,000 The Royal Society of Canada was 1,500 launching their much-anticipated Expert Panel Report on the Environmental and 1,000 Health Impacts of Canada’s Oil Sands Industry. Promising to be the most 500 comprehensive evidence-based assess- 0 ment to date of the full spectrum of Earthquakes Tsunamis Radiation Medical Radiation major environmental and health impacts, (February 22) (March 11) Monitoring Isotopes (March 14) this report deserved wide media attention. (April 1) (October 15) The RSC approached the SMCC to Web hits to Experts Comments (cumulative) hold an embargoed online briefing, 1,500 wanting to ensure journalists time to thoroughly digest the report, and access 1,200 to the researchers for in-depth questions without the crush of an impending 900 deadline. Dr. Steve Hrudey, panel chair, 600 and three other panelists joined in to explain everything from the feasibility 300 of reclamation to the necessity for adequate environmental monitoring.
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