I thought it would be helpful to write a thread with tips for professors who suddenly have to start talking with reporters a lot. I've logged my media calls since early May, and yesterday I hit 150. Before May, I probably spoke with a few reporters a month at most.

But then Section 230 exploded. And the topic that many *academic* publishers rejected as arcane was suddenly all over the news. I was a journalist for 7 years, so I thought that I had some idea how to handle this. But it is very different to be on the other side of the story.

So here are some lessons that I've learned (or, really, am still learning):

1. Make yourself available. My DM's are open, and my email and personal cell are on my website. I don't have the luxury of a PR dept, but as a reporter I always hated having to filter through a PR person. It is like the Curb Your Enthusiasm where Larry gets frustrated when he

has to tell the medical assistant about his symptoms, only to repeat it again to the doctor. Reporters are on deadlines, so if you want them to reach you, just make sure that they can contact you directly.

2. Relatedly, if you're going to speak with a reporter, try to respond promptly. Especially in today's media environment, deadlines are tight. Sometimes that isn't possible. On the day that the 230 executive order was released, I had more than 50 reporter requests and I just

could not get back to everyone, and definitely not by their deadlines.

3. And on that note, you don't have an obligation to speak with everyone. You need to prioritize. My priorities, in order, are 1. My family, 2. My job, which is teaching college students, and 3. Everything else (writing, speaking to media, speaking on panels)

Especially with schools closed, #1 is very time consuming. And #2 takes way more time than normal when teaching online. So nobody else is entitled to your time, and don't feel bad if you simply can't make the time.

Last year, when Section 230 started to be in the news more, I promised that I would call any reporter back at any time. I still try to do that but I can't promise that, especially on heavy news days.

4. If you do choose to speak with a reporter, make sure that you have enough time to ensure that they understand what you are saying. I'm a professor, and not an advocate, and I view my most important role with reporters as helping to educate them about what

Section 230 says and doesn't say. If you get the sense that the reporter doesn't quite get what you are saying, you should circle back on it. Remember, you may have spent years or decades on the subject, but the reporter very well may be new to this.

So you need to be patient and understanding, and recognize your role in helping the reporter to inform readers. I see it as an extension of my duties as an educator.

5. Along those lines, it always is good to start out with the very big picture and work your way to the details. This may vary by reporter. There are some reporters, particularly with trade publications, who know the issues very well and do not need the big picture.

6. A reporter may very much want you to provide "the quote" to support a particular point that the reporter is trying to make. You can tell this if you're asked the same question 20 different ways. If this is not an opinion/assertion with which you agree, you have no

obligation to provide "the quote" to the reporter, no matter how much they might need it.

7. It's also OK to tell a reporter that you don't know the answer. I have done that repeatedly over the past few months, often when the questions stray into an area where I am not an expert. When I was a telecom reporter in the early 2000s, there were a few quote machines

who would have an answer/opinion on everything. Over time, it became clear that they really didn't know what they were talking about.

8. Always suggest other people in the field for the reporter to also speak with. I particularly encourage reporters to call women and people of color who are experts in my field but do not get as many media calls.

9. Offer to be available for the reporter to fact check what they have written. Most reporters won't let you see what they've written verbatim due to ethical concerns, but they may want to summarize their understanding of a complex point.

10. Let reporters know when you think they've done a good job characterizing the complexities of your field. Especially these days, being nice and humane goes a long way.

11. Have fun! Most of what we do is obscure, and there is a limit as to how much our family members want to hear us talk about it. (OK, maybe that is just my family?) You suddenly have the chance to talk with a lot of people about your field - how cool is that?

Those are just some of my thoughts as I continue to learn how to do this. I have no idea how epidemiologists have handled the past six months.