Recognizing that technical expertise is only part of what a journalist needs from a science source, SciLine also works to provide communications training for scientists. It strives to expand the diversity of those able to serve as expert news sources, with the goal of increasing the breadth of evidence-based perspectives and reducing journalistic reliance on the “usual suspects”, even when deadlines loom.
SciLine aims to make its services and products available to all journalists, including general assignment, local, political, and freelance reporters, as well as to non-traditional communicators such as bloggers and social media influencers.
As part of its commitment to unbiased elucidation of evidence and transparency, scientists on SciLine’s referral list agree to reveal relevant funding sources and other potential conflicts of interest.