Journalists are looking for the right sources for current stories on a daily basis.

If the journalist needs a source with deep and up-to-date knowledge, then Aarhus University's various lists of experts may help. The university makes a general list of experts available, just as there are lists of experts at the individual faculties, for example at Health, while the Rector's Office is responsible for drawing up specific lists for e.g. The Winter Olympics in China, the coronavirus or the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Aarhus University's focus is on promoting gender equality and diversity – also when it comes to its lists of experts. However, the Line X group of activists, which works to ensure that women have the same conditions for a research career as men, wants to increase awareness of the importance of being available to the media. To help achieve this, they have organised an after-work meeting on the topic of expert lists and press contact on 24 February.

Both men and women from all departments are welcome, explains Associate Professor and Research Programme Director at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Kamille Smidt Rasmussen, who is one of the founders of Line X.

"I hope there’s lots of people out there who want to hear more about why it’s good for a researcher to be on the list of experts, and about what’s required and how to cooperate successfully with the media," she says.

If you as a researcher wish to be added to one of the university's lists of experts, you can tick several important boxes at the same time, as Kamille Smidt Rasmussen emphasises:

1. You contribute with knowledge to society and qualify the public debate. This is important because a university has a duty to communicate its research. According to the Danish University Act, “As society’s central repository of culture and knowledge, the university must exchange knowledge and competences with the society it belongs to and encourage its staff to take part in public debate”.
2. You make your field of research more visible. When you participate in e.g. newspaper articles, podcasts or TV interviews, the outside world is made aware of your exciting work. Visibility can increase the chance of funding for the field you are passionate about.
3. You give your career a boost. The healthcare sector provides good material for the media, and interest in it gives you the opportunity to position yourself and your research. In the world of academia, you are not solely judged in terms of work performance and results. Visibility in journals, on social media and in the press can increase citations. Grants, publications and citations are the key to advancing in the academic hierarchy.

Take on the role of expert

It can be difficult to stand there and take on the role of expert, especially if you do not have much experience with media appearances.

However, you are never alone when cooperating with the media.

The communications officers from both Health and the Rector's Office will be giving a presentation together with Line X at the after-work meeting on 24 February, and you are always welcome to contact your Communication Partner, if you have any questions, suggestions or comments about the lists of experts. You can also contact your communication partner if you want to do media training or get some good advice in connection with an interview or a media request.

Read more about the after-work meeting here. (The meeting will be in Danish)

FACT BOX – THE LIST OF EXPERTS

Contact your Communication Partner if you are interested in being added to one of the lists of experts or wish to recommend a colleague.

Please note that you cannot be certain of being added to one of the lists, even though you are interested – they are edited based on the needs of the media and not based on what the university has to offer. The university's communications departments put together the lists, and they follow the journalistic agenda and journalistic news criteria rather than selecting topics based on contributors. They do also look at whether Aarhus University is strong within a given area.

At Health, the following criteria apply for being on the general list of experts:

You must:

• Be an expert in one of the selected topics and have researcher seniority from associate professor level and above*.
• Be interested in talking to journalists and communicating your subject area in a manner that is interesting, engaging and understandable for laypersons.
• Have an updated PURE profile with the correct title, mobile number, email address, building number, room number and a photo with a presentable likeness. The requirement for mobile phone number may be deviated from in special cases.
• Provide up to five keywords about your research areas that can be understood by laypersons.
• Be familiar with the website with material on press contact. 

*Aarhus University regularly prepares current lists of experts – e.g. in the event of major world events or crises. You can be added to these lists if you are a PhD or postdoc with deep knowledge of a topic.