Improving Public Information About Maternal and Child Health Through Media Engagement 

March-April 2023 

If you’re a researcher working on maternal and child health, or a related topic who wants to increase public literacy around your work but doesn’t know where to start, this opportunity is for you! 

How to Apply: Complete this short online form, which will take no more than 10 minutes of your time. 

Deadline to Apply: Friday, February 24, 2023 

 The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) is seeking participants for a new learning series for researchers who want to see their findings in mainstream and social media but are stymied by limited time and a lack of familiarity with media engagement. 

 Through a series of virtual meetings and flexible, short assignments designed to respect the competing demands of academic life, the Research-to-Media Pitch Challenge will guide researchers through the foundational steps of positioning and pitching their work for media. It will give participants the chance to interact with like-minded colleagues and will conclude with a peer work and plenary learning happy hour at the Population Association of America (PAA) Annual Meeting in April 2023.  

WHO should apply? 

Researchers at Population Dynamics Research Centers funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). No prior experience pitching or placing work in the media is required. Researchers planning to attend the PAA Conference in person are especially encouraged to apply. 

HOW does the Pitch Challenge work? 

The Pitch Challenge gives researchers a process to position and pitch their work for media, including how to recognize what is newsworthy, and how to identify and connect with the right outlets for placement.  

• A series of short assignments will be sent out each week by email starting mid-March. The assignments can be completed on participants’ own schedule during the week they are sent; each assignment will require no more than 30 minutes to complete.   
• A group feedback happy hour will be held at the PAA conference. At the end of the Challenge, participants will have developed at least one pitch to share with the media. Limited 1:1 coaching will be provided as needed to help participants complete their pitch process. 

WHAT can participants expect? 

The Pitch Challenge is meant to demystify and simplify media engagement through a self-guided process broken down into small, manageable steps that participants can complete on their own schedule. It will give researchers a foundation of knowledge that they can apply to current and future pitches. The ultimate goal of the Challenge is to increase knowledge and literacy around abortion and maternal health by creating a bridge between research and data, and the public. 

If you have any questions about this application, please email Alana Barton (abarton@prb.org)