Australians can now donate to support AusSMC in the fight against misinformation
The Australian Science Media Centre is turning 20 today, celebrating two decades of helping journalists cover some of the biggest stories of the century, from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Fukushima nuclear disaster to climate change and the Black Saturday/Black Summer bushfires.
Our commitment to the Australian community has also recently led to us being granted charitable tax-deductible gift recipient (DGR) status, enabling the AusSMC to accept tax-deductible donations and philanthropic funds for the first time. Each year, the AusSMC’s Expert Reactions and Media Briefings help inform between 30,000 and 35,000 news stories.
“As the media landscape becomes more fragmented and the online environment is awash with misinformation, the need for trusted information sources has become critical,” said AusSMC CEO Dr Susannah Eliott. “False narratives and inaccurate stories about health, climate and technology spread at lightning speed, confusing critical issues and derailing meaningful discourse. AusSMC is Australia’s powerful antidote to misinformation, bridging the gap between expert knowledge and public understanding”.
With more than 2,000 registered journalists and 6,500 science experts on our database, when science hits the headlines, the AusSMC is there to connect the people behind the news with independent and credible experts from around the country. Fulfilling a vital and unique role, we give journalists direct access to the evidence and experts they need to deliver clear, accurate, research-backed stories that help Australians make informed decisions on issues that impact their lives.
“I’m very proud of what the AusSMC has achieved since opening in 2005. From humble beginnings, we’ve established a national piece of infrastructure that is essential to ensure evidence-based science is seen by all Australians through all media channels and is a line of defence against the onslaught of misinformation,” said AusSMC Chairman, Peter Yates AM. “This has only been made possible by the generous support of Australia’s leading media, universities and research institutes, governments, businesses and more recently philanthropists. We hope to expand our support base to strengthen our fight against misinformation”.
This milestone also coincides with the 10th birthday of Scimex, the breaking science news platform the AusSMC created to help journalists access credible research. Designed with the media in mind, Scimex is now increasingly being used by the general public who are looking for credible sources of information.
“Whether it’s the latest treatment for cancer or a climate science report, journalists and the public need to know that information can be trusted, so we built Scimex.org as a hub of quality, vetted, science information for the region,” said Lyndal Byford, Director of News and Partnerships. Run in collaboration with the Science Media Centre of New Zealand, Scimex now covers Australia, NZ and the Pacific and is available to journalists all over the world.
To mark 10 years of Scimex, the AusSMC is preparing to launch a major upgrade to the site that is more engaging for the public and has improved access for journalists, thanks to a grant from the Meta Australian News Fund, in partnership with the Walkley Foundation. We are also celebrating our birthday in a new home, with a move to Adelaide's thriving Lot Fourteen innovation precinct.
On our 20th birthday, the AusSMC is now turning to individuals, foundations and organisations to support our unique and essential work and become part of a powerful movement that’s helping to create a stronger, smarter, and more well-informed nation where knowledge overpowers confusion and evidence is trusted and valued.
More information on how to donate to the AusSMC is at smc.org.au/donate
Contact: Lyndal Byford
Phone: +61 8 7120 8666
Email: info@smc.org.au